The Real People Who Inspired Timeless Fictional Characters

The Original Grouch

Photo Credits: New York Public Library / Wikipedia

John Elwes was a Member of Parliament in Great Britain for Berkshire between 1772 and 1784. He was a known grouch and after he inherited his uncle’s fortune became overly frugal with his money.

He was known to go to bed at sundown to save on candles, never bought new clothes, ate old food, walked in the rain, and a number of other things in the name of saving money. It was his frugality and all around negative demeanor that inspired the character of Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol.