In today's world, John Hetherington is a topic that occupies a central place in conversations and debates in society. Whether in terms of social, economic, political or cultural impact, John Hetherington has captured the attention of people of all ages and walks of life. The relevance and importance of John Hetherington extends globally, and its influence is felt in different areas of daily life. In this article, we will explore the different facets and perspectives surrounding John Hetherington, with the aim of deeply understanding its scope and its implications for the present and the future.
John Hetherington is an apocryphal English haberdasher. A frequently republished story from the late nineteenth century claims that in 1797 he invented the top hat and caused a riot by wearing it in public in London.
In 1899 the quarterly London journal Notes and Queries published a letter by a Richard H. Thornton of Portland, Oregon, quoting a "note from a recent number of the Hatters' Gazette". The note claims Hetherington as having decided to wear his invention of a "silk hat" in public on the 15th of January 1797 with the intention to "cause a sensation" only to be surrounded by a "howling mob".
The note claims to quote an unnamed gazette as having reported the following day that
John Hetherington... was arraigned before the Lord Mayor yesterday on a charge of breach of the peace and inciting to riot, and was required to give bonds in the sum of £500 appeared upon the public highway wearing upon his head what he called a silk hat... a tall structure, having a shiny lustre, and calculated to frighten timid people.... several women fainted at the unusual sight, while children screamed, dogs yelped, and a young was thrown down by the crowd which had collected and had his right arm broken.
The note concludes by claiming to quote a comment in The Times published the same day[verification needed] approving of the hat and stating that it was "destined to work a revolution in headgear".