Henry was born in Dublin, performed there and in London, and went to Jamaica with Charles Storer and his family about 1762.
He made his New York debut at the opening of the John Street Theatre on December 7, 1767 playing the role of Aimwell in The Beaux' Stratagem. He is said to have been the first to play the role of Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal in America. At the end of the American Revolution, after additional time in England and Jamaica, he returned to America and worked with Lewis Hallam Jr. to manage the American Company. He left the company in 1794 after disagreements with actor John Hodgkinson, who he had brought to the United States in 1792 together with his wife stage actress Frances Brett Hogkinson.[1]William Dunlap described Henry as being six feet tall "and uncommonly handsome."[2]
Henry died at sea of illness on October 16, 1794, reportedly from complications from gout.[1]
Personal life
Henry's private life was a source of gossip during his day. He rode in a private coach, which was unusual for the time, and though seen as ostentatious he maintained it was because he had gout. Henry also had two wives, sisters with the surname Storer who were both actresses. The first wife Jane, and their two young children, died at sea during a ship fire in 1767 off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island. Henry and Jane's younger sister Ann survived. Henry and Ann then lived together (and she may have bore him a son), but likely never formally married. Henry eventually married younger sister Maria, who died shortly after the death of her husband from the grief of his loss.[3][4][5][6][1][7]
Selected performances
The Roman Father, October 1767, as Publius Horatius (first continental appearance)
^ abcHighfill, Philip H., Jr. et al. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians ..., Vol. 17, pp. 270-71 (1982)
^Dunlap, William. A History of the American Theatre, p. 81 (1832)
^Fisher, James. Historical Dictionary of American Theater: Beginnings, p. 214 (2015)
^Fifty-years of a Play-goer's Journal, pp. v-vi (1860)
^Hornblow, Arthur. A History of the Theatre in America, Vol. I, p. 125 (1919)
^Highfill, Philip H., Jr. et al. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians ..., Vol. 14, pp. 314 (1991)
^Ireland and the Americas: Culture, Politics, and History, Vol. I, pp. 410-11 (2008)
^Taylor, George. The French Revolution and the London Stage, 1789-1805, pp. 36-37 (2004)
^Seilhamer, George Overcash. History of the American Theatre: During the revolution and after, pp. 355-56 (1889)(a long list of parts which Henry and his wife played)
August 21, 2023
john, henry, actor, other, people, named, john, henry, john, henry, disambiguation, john, henry, 1738, october, 1794, irish, born, actor, early, american, actor, theatre, manager, john, henryhenry, role, ephraim, smooth, wild, oats, engraving, tieboutborn1738d. For other people named John Henry see John Henry disambiguation John Henry 1738 October 16 1794 was an Irish born actor and early American actor and theatre manager John HenryHenry in role of Ephraim Smooth in Wild Oats engraving by C TieboutBorn1738Dublin IrelandDiedOctober 16 1794At seaOccupation s Stage actor managerSpouse s Jane Storer 1767 Maria Storer at least by 1788 1794 Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Selected performances 4 ReferencesCareer EditHenry was born in Dublin performed there and in London and went to Jamaica with Charles Storer and his family about 1762 He made his New York debut at the opening of the John Street Theatre on December 7 1767 playing the role of Aimwell in The Beaux Stratagem He is said to have been the first to play the role of Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal in America At the end of the American Revolution after additional time in England and Jamaica he returned to America and worked with Lewis Hallam Jr to manage the American Company He left the company in 1794 after disagreements with actor John Hodgkinson who he had brought to the United States in 1792 together with his wife stage actress Frances Brett Hogkinson 1 William Dunlap described Henry as being six feet tall and uncommonly handsome 2 Henry died at sea of illness on October 16 1794 reportedly from complications from gout 1 Personal life EditHenry s private life was a source of gossip during his day He rode in a private coach which was unusual for the time and though seen as ostentatious he maintained it was because he had gout Henry also had two wives sisters with the surname Storer who were both actresses The first wife Jane and their two young children died at sea during a ship fire in 1767 off the coast of Newport Rhode Island Henry and Jane s younger sister Ann survived Henry and Ann then lived together and she may have bore him a son but likely never formally married Henry eventually married younger sister Maria who died shortly after the death of her husband from the grief of his loss 3 4 5 6 1 7 Selected performances EditThe Roman Father October 1767 as Publius Horatius first continental appearance The School for Scandal as Peter Teazle The Beaux Stratagem as Aimwell December 1767 first New York appearance School for Soldiers or the Deserters play by Henry 1781 published in Kingston Jamaica 1783 adapted from Le Deserteur by Louis Sebastien Mercier 8 The Father 1789 9 References Edit a b c Highfill Philip H Jr et al A Biographical Dictionary of Actors Actresses Musicians Vol 17 pp 270 71 1982 Dunlap William A History of the American Theatre p 81 1832 Fisher James Historical Dictionary of American Theater Beginnings p 214 2015 Fifty years of a Play goer s Journal pp v vi 1860 Hornblow Arthur A History of the Theatre in America Vol I p 125 1919 Highfill Philip H Jr et al A Biographical Dictionary of Actors Actresses Musicians Vol 14 pp 314 1991 Ireland and the Americas Culture Politics and History Vol I pp 410 11 2008 Taylor George The French Revolution and the London Stage 1789 1805 pp 36 37 2004 Seilhamer George Overcash History of the American Theatre During the revolution and after pp 355 56 1889 a long list of parts which Henry and his wife played Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Henry actor amp oldid 1167488766, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
