Jackson, John

John Jackson, byname Gentleman Jackson, (born September 28, 1769, London, England—died October 7, 1845, London), English bare-knuckle boxer who was influential in securing acceptance of prizefighting as a legitimate sport in England.

Jackson was an amateur boxer of some repute, but he appeared in only three public matches. The third match, on April 15, 1795, against Daniel Mendoza, won him the championship of England. Jackson held this title until 1803, when he retired to conduct a school of self-defense at his house on Bond Street, London. He is said to have instituted in his teaching the scientific principles of boxing: countering blows, accurate judgment of distance, and agile footwork. His school attracted many young aristocrats—including Lord Byron—and a number of them formed the Pugilistic Club there in 1814. Jackson was elected to Ring magazine’s Boxing Hall of Fame in 1954.