Professor of Gastronomy or just a cook?

[John Bell]

I have a Henry Dumbrill who has claimed as his occupation, to be  a "Professor of Gastronomy".
Before I write him off as someone with tickets on himself could there be such a title in cooking?

John.

...............................
1861 Census
41 New Bridge? St, St Bride, London
Henry Dumbrell Servant Unm. 21. Cook. Sussex Eastbourne.

1871 Census
46 Liverpool St, St Pancras, London (Index as Diabrill)
Henry Dumbrill     Head UnM     29. Professor of Gastronomy.Sussex Eastbourne
                                                         
1881 Census
6 Bullen St, Battersea, London
Henry Dumbrill          Head Mar      39. Professor of Gastronomy. Sussex Eastbourne

1891 Landlord of the Lyric Tavern in Great Windmill St, London.

[ShaunJ]

The term was certainly in  use at the time in connection with leading chefs de cuisine, probably as a result of the activities of a celebrity chef by the name of Pierre Blot who styled  himself Professor of Gastronomy  in America in the 1860's

See http://www.practicallyedible.com/edible.nsf/pages/pierreblot!opendocument&startkey=Pierre%20Blot

and

http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/cookbooks/html/books/book_24.cfm

[John Bell]

Hi ShaunJ,

Many thanks for the information, perhaps I will have to look at Henry Dumbrill in another light!
Your link to the cookbook has certainly given me some new ideas on how to serve the Bear-ham next time I hunt one down.
Regards, John

[Redroger]

Apparently during the Victorian period it was normal for anyone teaching who had a minimum of 12 pupils to style themselves as a professor, hence the many professors of music. So why not a professor of gastronomy if he had 12 apprentice chefs under his tuition?

[RandomElectron]

Do you have any of his recipes? If he was a Professor of Gastronomy, they would be interesting..........