Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) is the greatest historian of the century.

Gibbons was an Englishman, but appears to have spent his boyhood in Holland, where he was christened "Grinling."

The river here affords favourite rowing water, the starting-place of the inter-universities boat-race; Putney Heath was a favourite duelling resort; Gibbon was a native;

Gibbon, the historian, was actually a member of it, and says that in spite of the rage for play, he found the society there rational and entertaining.