NASH, Richard, better known as "Beau Nash," a famous master of the ceremonies at Bath, was the son of a gentleman of limited means, and was born at Swansea in 1674. From Caermerthen School he was sent to Jesus College, Oxford, to prepare himself for ultimately studying law. But that thoughtless love of amusement which afterwards became his ruling passion soon began to influence him. At the age of seventeen, he entered into a matrimonial engagement, which caused his expulsion from the university. A commission in the army was then bought for him. But even the barrack life of a soldier was too serious an employment; and so, under the guise of studying law at the Middle Temple, he devoted his life to pleasure. A fairly-acquired success at the gaming-table supplied him with money. His fine clothes, his imperturbable effrontery, and especially his scrupulous attention to all the ceremonies of polite life, introduced him in a short time to the leaders of fashion. So eminent a master did he become in the science of gentility, that the members of the Temple appointed him to conduct the pageants with which, in accordance with an old custom, they entertained King William. This difficult duty was performed with a masterly tact, and would have been rewarded with a knighthood had not the uncertain income of the "beau" been inadequate to maintain such a dignity. The notoriety of Nash, however, did not commence until he repaired to Bath in 1704. That city was then a paltry watering-place, where a few visitors sought for health and pleasure in comfortless lodging-houses, ill-regulated entertainments, and assembly-rooms perfumed with tobacco-smoke. With his usual forwardness of spirit, Nash got himself appointed master of the ceremonies, and inaugurated his rule by a thorough reformation. By his exertions a handsome assembly-hall was erected, the streets and houses were improved and ornamented, and Bath began to assume the appearance of a city consecrated to pleasure. Good breeding was installed as the ruling principle of the balls and entertainments, and was guarded by a code of laws rigorously enforced upon all. He constituted himself umpire of all quarrels, and prevented appeal from his decisions by forbidding swords to be worn. He also endeavoured, gambler though he was, to keep the thoughtless young of both sexes from the clutches of designing villains. At the same time, his exertions for the improvement of the city, his native vivacity, and his free though sometimes misdirected benevolence, made him popular with the people of the town. In his old age, however, the act of Parliament against gambling deprived him of the means of subsistence. The absurd pomp with which, in his character of "King of Bath," he was wont to secure the respect of the frivolous and the vulgar, could no longer be maintained. The glory of the old beau faded simultaneously with the gaudy trappings that decked his ungainly person. Yet with tottering steps he continued to pursue those vanities which no longer afforded him any enjoyment. He died in February 1761, and was honoured with a public funeral. A Life of Richard Nash, by Goldsmith, was published anonymously, in 8vo, London, 1762, and has been reprinted in the edition of Goldsmith's works by Peter Cunningham, in 4 vols. 8vo, London, 1854.