Sedan Chair

Sedan Chair, a portable covered vehicle for carrying a single person, borne on two poles by two men. The name is derived from the town of Sedan, where this species of conveyance is said to have been invented. The Duke of Buckingham used one in the reign of James I., a proceeding which gave general offence, it being made matter of public remark that this royal favourite used his fellow-countrymen to do the work of beasts. In September 1634 Sir Sanders Dunecombe got a letter patent, granting him the sole right and privilege for fourteen years to use and let for hire within London and Westminster 'covered chairs' to prevent the unnecessary use of coaches; according to Evelyn he got the notion from Naples. Sedan chairs were largely used during the greater part of the 18th century, being found very well adapted for transporting persons, in full dress, to public and private entertainments. Not only were there numerous public conveyances of this kind in London and all considerable towns, but the owner of every large mansion had his private sedan handsomely fitted up. In Edinburgh at the close of the 18th century sedan chairs were far more numerous than hackney coaches, and were almost all in the hands of Highlanders. Sedans are perhaps hardly yet quite extinct, having been in use in London so late at least as 1830, at Winchester as 1851, at Peterborough and Edinburgh as 1860, at Genoa as 1882, at Newcastle as 1885, and at Bury St Edmunds as 1890. Sedan chairs have also been employed as ambulances for conveying sick persons to hospitals.