Pierce Egan - Definition and Overview

Pierce Egan (1772-1849), early journalist, sportswriter, and writer on popular culture. He wrote first about boxing in his serial publication, Boxiana, or Sketches of Modern Pugilism (1824), in which he originated the description of boxing as "the sweet science".

In 1824, he began publication of a monthly journal, Life in London. His articles for that paper were collected in his best-known work, Life in London, or The Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorn Esq. and his Elegant Friend Corinthian Tom. These tales of the rough street life of the rich young Regency bucks were among the first instances of journalism covering common life and not simply royal courts and politics. This book is also the source of the expression Tom and Jerry, meaning fighting, drinking, and causing trouble.