The Hellfire Club, a name for several…
1744 CE to 1755 CE
The Hellfire Club, a name for several exclusive clubs for high society rakes established in Britain and Ireland in the eighteenth century, is more formally or cautiously known as the "Order of the Friars of St. Francis of Wycombe".
These clubs are rumored to be the meeting places of "persons of quality" who wish to take part in immoral acts, and the members are often very involved in politics.
Neither the activities nor membership of the club are easy to ascertain.
The very first Hellfire Club had been founded in 1719 in London, by Philip, Duke of Wharton and a handful of other high society friends.
The most infamous club associated with the name was established in England by Sir Francis Dashwood, and meets irregularly from around 1749 to around 1760, and possibly up until 1766.
In its later years, the Hellfire is closely associated with Brooks's, established in 1764.
Other clubs using the name "Hellfire Club" are set up throughout the eighteenth century.
Most of these clubs are set up in Ireland after Wharton's are dispelled.
The club motto is Fais ce que tu voudras (”Do what thou wilt”), a philosophy of life associated with François Rabelais' fictional abbey at Thélème and later used by Aleister Crowley.