How did the "stiff upper lip" become a defining characteristic of "Englishness" or the English national character?

by [deleted]

The phrase and concept pops up all the time in reference to the English in popular culture and seems to have been embraced by the English themselves. How, where, and when did this perception get its start and come to be regarded as a quintessential quality?

Searocksandtrees

hi! there's always room for more input; meanwhile check out this earlier post

I have heard it suggested that in the C18th and earlier, the English were seen as an emotional, demonstrative race by other Europeans. This is at odds to the more modern perception of repression & stiff-upper-lip etc. Is there any truth to this change in character? If so, what caused it?

... and you may find this of interest

How and when did the British get there stereotype of being gentleman and all that