Who was the "Happy Man"?

Sir John Borlase Warren

The "Happy Man" pub is named in honour of an incident in the life of Sir John Borlase Warren, 1^stBt.

Sir John (1753-1822) was a famous (well at the time, anyway) naval admiral during the Napoleonic wars at the start of the 19th century.

He was born in Stapleford, at his family's home; the long-since demolished Stapleford Hall. His and his family's association with the town is also indicated in the name of the now closed "Warren Arms" pub, and Warren Avenue, which leads down to the banks of the Erewash; where the Hall once stood.

There are other legacies of his memory around Nottingham, not least, for instance, the Sir John Borlase Warren pub at Canning Circus.

Anyway, the story goes that Sir John fell instantly, madly, in love upon meeting with one Caroline Clavering¹ & wrote her the following billet-doux prior to departing on one of his many heroic naval exploits:-

Si ce coeur est digne de vous et vous daignez pour l'accepter, vous me ferez le plus heureux des hommes

[Which translates to: If this heart is worthy of you and you deign to accept it, you will make me the happiest of men.]

To which he received the reply :-

Then you shall be happy !

On his return, they proceeded to marry & lived happily ever after, no doubt.

It is an interesting footnote to spot that Sir John composed his note in French, yet at the time was whooping it up the Napoleonic fleet with great gusto. The language of love obviously being immune from the trials & tribulations of war.

¹Caroline Clavering (abt.1766-1840) was the youngest daughter of Sir James John Clavering (1721-1777), of Greencroft, Axwell, Co. Durham.
²Wikipedia entry for JBW.