Personal Life
Mace was a skillful violinist who originally aspired to a career in music. Indeed, the trashing of his violin by three thugs in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and his subsequent thrashing them led to the ring. He may have been noted for posing like Greek statues, a pastime more attributed to women and actors of the time.
In 1866 Mace became the proprietor of the Strawberry Gardens pleasure grounds at West Derby, near Liverpool. At various times, he was also a professional runner, publican, circus proprietor and racehorse owner. He kept a saloon in New York City for several years, and later a hotel in Melbourne.
He married three times, twice bigamously, and fathered at least fourteen children by five women. He possibly had an affair with famous American actress Adah Isaacs Menken.
During his life he made and gambled away a considerable fortune. He ended as a penniless busker in Jarrow, Durham and was buried in an unmarked grave at Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool. In 2002, the Merseyside Former Boxers Association arranged a memorial headstone by his grave.
Read more about this topic: Jem Mace
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