any port in a storm

The first known publication of the phrase was in a 1749 erotic novel: John Cleland's Fanny Hill: Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure. The phrase, "Pooh!", says he "my dear, any port in a storm."{{cite book |last1=Cleland |first1=John |title=Memoirs of Fanny Hill |date=1888 |publisher=Isadore Liseux |location=Paris |page=245 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yJAZAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Pooh!%22,+says+he+%22my+dear,+any+port+in+a+storm.%22&pg=PA245 |access-date=28 August 2022}}{{cite book |last1=Apperson |first1=G. L. |title=The Wordsworth dictionary of proverbs |date=2006 |publisher=Wordsworth Reference |location=Ware, Herts. |isbn=978-1840223118 |page=21 |edition=New |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PMZJqSR4sAC&dq=proverb+Any+port+in+a+storm&pg=PA21 |access-date=2 September 2022}}{{cite book |last1=Manser |first1=Martin H. |title=The Facts on File dictionary of proverbs |date=2002 |publisher=Facts on File |location=New York |isbn=978-0816046072 |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgaUQc8NbTYC&dq=proverb+Any+port+in+a+storm&pg=PA9 |access-date=2 September 2022}} The phrase "any port in a storm" was used to describe a private theatrical play hosted by Lord Eldon in 1809: it was reported in the Augusta Columbian Centinel.{{cite news |title=Private Theatrical |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-nov-25-1809-3399677/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |newspaper=Augusta Columbian Centinel|date=25 November 1809}} In 1841 the phrase became a political slogan for the Whig Party's Winfield Scott as a candidate for US president when party members were opposed to Henry Clay they said, "Give us any port in a storm."{{cite news |title=Any Port in a Storm |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/other-articles-clipping-nov-25-1841-3399652/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |newspaper=Ohio Democrat}}

In 1908, the phrase appeared in a popular song composed by Kerry Mills and Arthur J. Lamb entitled "Any Old Port in a Storm".{{cite book |last1=Tyler |first1=Don |title=Hit songs, 1900-1955 : American popular music of the pre-rock era |date=2007 |publisher=McFarland |location=Jefferson, N.C. |isbn=978-0786429462 |page=39 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hSCfBQAAQBAJ&dq=any+old+port+in+a+storm+song&pg=PA39 |access-date=28 August 2022}}

{{main|Place of refuge for ships}}

It is widely believed that international maritime law allows mariners in distress to "lawfully seek shelter in the closest harbor, regardless of nationality". However, it is not clear that such a doctrine exists.{{Cite journal |last=Murray |first=Christopher F. |date=2002 |title=Any Port in a Storm? The Right of Entry for Reasons of Force Majeure or Distress in the Wake of the Erika and the Castor |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/159574459.pdf |journal=Ohio State Law Journal |volume=63 |issue=5 |pages=1465–1506}}

The metaphor is widely used, as in an episode of The Wire, "Port in a Storm".{{cite web |author=Brian Ford Sullivan |date=January 4, 2001 |title=The 50 Best Episodes of 2003: #20-11 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/reviews/2004/01/15/the-50-best-episodes-of-2003-number-20-11-16377/20040115_bestof2003/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |newspaper=The Futon Critic}} It is sometimes a play on words with port wine, as in an episode of Columbo.{{cite web |date=24 September 2017 |title=Columbo Any Old Port in a Storm |url=https://columbophile.com/2017/09/24/episode-review-columbo-any-old-port-in-a-storm/ |access-date=28 August 2022 |website=Columbo Phile |publisher=Columbo Phile}} The variant "not just any port in a storm" has been used in a variety of contexts, including in reference to port wine.{{cite news |last1=Fegan |first1=Patrick W. |title=Not just any port in a storm |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-03-24-0403240084-story.html |access-date=27 October 2022 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=24 March 2004}}

• List of proverbial phrases

{{reflist}}

{{Wiktionary}}

{{Fanny Hill}}

Category:Proverbs