• Name: Egerton, Jasper
• Gender: Male
• Birth Date:
• Death Date:

There is a consistent individual known as Egerton who appears in Godwin's diary from 1799, and who introduces Godwin to Sarah Elwes shortly after their first meeting (for more detail see Sarah Elwes.

J Egerton is named in the divorce procedings of John Elwes and Mrs Sarah Elwes, who were married in 1789, and he was implicated in the case against Mr G Harvey for criminal conversation (c. 1793) that resulted in a divorce case in 1796 (July 11). Although Egerton was named in the case, the principal accused was Harvey, whom Mrs Elwes's lawyer alleged was in a conspiracy with her husband to be rid of her.

Given that Egerton is the source of Godwin's contact with Mrs Elwes, in 1799, and that they are together a considerable part of the time, it seems probable that these are the couple involved in this court case. Mrs Elwes also leave some jewelry to Jasper Egerton in her will (and Godwin and Egerton both attend her funeral).

The first entry is independent, 1799-03-20, but the three later 1799 entries are all linked to S Elwes , 1799-07-03; 1799-08-01; 1799-08-02; as are those in 1800 : 1800-03-31; 1800-08-29; 1800-08-30; and 3/4 in 1801 (the fourth being a dine at Egerton's) 1801-01-11, 1801-02-25, 1801-02-28, 1801-04-23; The later entries are independent calls, with no link to S Elwes until the last which is her funeral. 1812-08-01, 1813-08-13, 1813-08-21, 1814-01-07, 1818-01-03

It is possible that some references are to Egerton, Daniel (1772–1835), actor and theatre manager, DNB (although he is mainly in provincial theatre companies between June 1799 and 1807), but the proximity to Elwes suggests that J Egerton is the better identification.

• DNB
• Mark Philp, 'Improper Levity: Sarah Elwes's Calling' Bodleian Library Record, April, 2011

This table lists the people this person is most frequently noted with in the diary.