Gordon Bennett

I`m surprised that, in his review of the new book about Gordon Bennett, Charlie English omitted the example of his behaviour which is most responsible for his name becoming "an appropriate response to news of any extraordinary event" (Gordon Bennett and the First Yacht Race Across the Atlantic,12/03/16). In 1877, Gordon`s engagement to socialite Caroline May was broken off after he disgraced himself in his future in-laws` house, by drunkenly mistaking the dining-room`s fireplace for the  toilet,and urinating in front of all assembled guests.