Jack Black (rat catcher)

Jack Black, 1851

Jack Black was a rat-catcher and mole destroyer from Battersea, England during the middle of the 19th century.[1][2] Black cut a striking figure in his self-made "uniform" of a green topcoat, scarlet waistcoat, and breeches, with a huge leather sash inset with cast-iron rats. Black promoted himself as the Queen's official rat-catcher, but he never held a royal warrant.[2]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mayhew was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b McCullough, Marie (May 10, 2015). "Sniffing out the dirty history of the common rat". Philadelphia Inquirer. p. B2.