1 definition by gasspark
The Phrase "Home, James," is a cliche supposedly born circa 1840. It is a widely understood phrase used by a passenger to his or her driver, telling the driver to take him or her home.
Queen Victoria of Britain reigned from 1837 until 1901. She would be driven about, when not using a train, by horse drawn carriage as was the convention at the time. There would have been a number of coach drivers available to her, depending on the location and the carriage being used. One of them towards the end of the 1800s was named James.
His name was James Darling, and little is known of him except his name and position. It was the convention of the time for an upper class person to address a driver by his surname, but this would have left the Queen saying “home, Darling.” The Queen naturally decided to use his first name to save embarrassment, and a phrase was born.
Queen Victoria of Britain reigned from 1837 until 1901. She would be driven about, when not using a train, by horse drawn carriage as was the convention at the time. There would have been a number of coach drivers available to her, depending on the location and the carriage being used. One of them towards the end of the 1800s was named James.
His name was James Darling, and little is known of him except his name and position. It was the convention of the time for an upper class person to address a driver by his surname, but this would have left the Queen saying “home, Darling.” The Queen naturally decided to use his first name to save embarrassment, and a phrase was born.
by gasspark August 16, 2015