I can see what you are getting at Stephanie. The choice of terminology for such topics can be quite tricky. English class and social structures were evolving quite rapidly in JA's time, in part because of increasing wealth through trade and because the industrial revolution was gathering pace. A "middle class" in the modern sense was only just emerging.

There is a lot of information in the Life and Times archives on this and many other topics. Try searching in the archives from 1998-present using search terms such as "class" or "gentleman" and you'll see what I mean. (But be warned, once you start delving about in this wonderful resource you may not emerge for weeks!)