Who established London’s first official Hellfire Club?

Although many Hellfire Clubs were established in England and Ireland in the 1700’s and the term is most often applied to the meetings of Sir Francis Dashwood’s Order of the Friars of St. Francis of Wycombe, the first was founded by Philip, Duke of Wharton, in 1718, in London. It’s motto was “Fais ce que to voudras”, or “Do what you want to do.”

Lord Wharton was a politician whom King George I made a duke. He was known by many as a learned individual but by some as a non-believer, drunk, and what would today be called a hell-raiser. Details about members and activities are sketchy, but Wharton’s club was thought to be more of a joke than a serious organization that worshiped hellish entities.

Behind closed doors, members blasphemed, held mock religious events, and ate dishes such as “breast of Venus”, “Devil’s loin”, and Holy Ghost pie”. Generally, theybehaved in a way intended to shock outsiders who heard rumors. The Devil was the Hellfire Club’s nominal “president”, but members called themselves devils. The club admitted both men and women, who were equals.

Persuaded by Robert Walpole, a political enemy of Wharton, George I outlawed immorality. Wharton was voted out of Parliament and the club was closed. Thereafter, Hellfire Clubs took refuge in Ireland.