Dean Martin's shoe size: The City of London's curious American connections

A small exhibition in the City of London marks 250 years since American independence by showing surprising connections between the City and the Thirteen Colonies. Records include a London church marriage entry for John Quincy Adams and Louisa Johnson. Letters display support for the American cause, including backing from the Lord Mayor of London, John Wilkes, and replies favoring continued links with England if taxation were devolved. The exhibition also presents indentured servitude documents describing how English migrants could be trapped in the USA through coercion or deception. Additional items include an unusual record of Dean Martin’s foot size from a London shoe maker and a later City grant of Freedom to Dwight Eisenhower in 1945.

"One of the less well-known links across the pond was indentured servitude. English people might migrate to the USA for work and have their travel paid for by their employers, but they have to work to pay back the debt. However, many were coerced or lied to about work opportunities and became trapped in the USA, unable to return to England."

"There's the marriage record from All Hallows by the Tower church showing the marriage of the USA's sixth president, John Quincy Adams, to Louisa Johnson in London. There are also letters on display, such as one from the Lord Mayor of London, John Wilkes, supporting the American cause against the King's oppression, and responses supporting retained links with England, if only taxation could be devolved to the colonies."

"A very unexpected document is the actor Dean Martin's foot size. It comes from a London-based shoe maker who used to measure clients' feet by drawing around them. So if you want to know how big Dean Martin's feet were, this is the very unexpected place to come."

"There's also a sign of later closer links, when the City granted the Freedom to Dwight Eisenhower in 1945. The exhibition is just three cases in the Guildhall Art Gallery's heritage centre, but for Americans (and fans of), it's quite a timely display of rarely seen documents. It's open until the end of October and is free to visit."

Read at ianVisits