George Payne

Who was George Payne?

George Payne, was an English breeder of thoroughbred horses, an inveterate gambler, a patron of the Turf and a Master of the Hunt.

Payne was orphaned while still a young boy when his father was shot dead in a duel. Being the eldest son he inherited Sulby Hall. Sulby Hall was located southwest of Market Harborough in Northamptonshire, was constructed in 1792 for his grandfather, Rene Payne, a partner in the banking firm of Smith, Payne and Lepper, and was designed by John Soane. It was bought by the Hon. Frederick William Child Villiers, son of George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey, in 1849, having been hired between 1847 & 1849 by the Duke of Montrose, and was demolished in 1949.

In addition to Sulby Hall, Payne was left £300 000 in cash and securities and was appointed Sheriff of Northamptonshire for 1826. Being rendered financially independent, he pursued a life of gambling on horses and at the card-table. A year before coming of age he wagered and lost £33 000 by Jerry’s 1824 victory in the St Leger. He failed to win £60 000 when Lord Lyon beat Savernake by a short head in the 1866 Derby, and lost a further £40 000 when Cremorne beat Pell Mell by a head in 1872.