What exactly is a "gentleman farmer"

Posted by Word Camel on June 10, 2004

In Reply to: What exactly is a "gentleman farmer" posted by Lewis on June 10, 2004

: : : : in the context of 18th-century France? Is "landowner" anything like a synonym?

: : : Yes, although in the UK the term gentleman meant a little more. To be called a gentleman you would need to be:

: : : - male, obviously
: : : - landowning, or at least to have sufficient private income or funds not to have to work.
: : : - respectable. This would involve observing the rules of polite behaviour, not abusing your position of power, etc.

: : : For an example from Pride and Prejudice, the hero Darcy, having land, and caring for his unfortunate relatives, is a gentleman. Mr Bennet, having no land but a small private income and is quietly studious, also qualifies. Wickham, the villian, is from a wealthy family but, by seducing a vulnerable wench, doesn't live up to the moral code of decency and is therefore 'no gentleman'.

: : Dictionary.com provides the following:

: : gentleman farmer
: : n. pl. gentlemen farmers
: : A man of independent means who farms chiefly for pleasure rather than income.

: The traditional 'gentleman farmer' would be a person of wealth who has no economic imperative to make a profit from farming, but runs a farm out of interest. Rock stars may often not be 'gentlemen' in the sense of impeccable behaviour, but have often become farmers out of pastoral idealism.

And they (the rock stars) really come from Sheffield and their average age is over 35. :)

• "Gentleman farmers" Warthog 11/June/04