Colman took on a management role, but a serious quarrel broke outbetween Harris and Colman arose during the first season, driven by the ambitions of Jane Lessingham, an actress with whom Harris lived. Colman, with whom Powell sided, barricaded the theatre, and Harris, supported by Rutherford, broke it forcibly open. Legal proceedings and a pamphlet war followed. On 23 July 1770 a legal decision of the commissioners of the Great Seal reinstated Colman as acting manager, subject to the advice and inspection, but not the control, of his fellows. Powell meanwhile had died 3 July 1769.[1]
On the resignation, 26 May 1774, by Colman of his post, Harris undertook the duties of stage-manager, which he held to until his death. He was accused of sacrificing to spectacle the artistic interests of the drama. He behaved generously to actors, however, and maintained a good reputation and some personal popularity.[1]
Harris died on 1 October 1820 at his cottage near Wimbledon, and was buried in his family vault at Hillingdon, near Uxbridge.[1]
Familyedit
His son, Henry Harris, lived with the actress Nannette Johnston 1811-14 after she left her husband Henry Erskine Johnston, later divorcing him.[2] Henry later married Elizabeth Logan, aka Mrs Carey, mistress of the Duke of York in Bath on 31 December 1832.[3] A daughter of Harris died in 1802, aged 15, and a son, George, lived to be a captain in the Royal Navy. A sister of Harris married into the family of Longmans, the publishers.[1]
^ “Johnston, Mrs Henry Erskine the first, Nannette, née Parker”, A biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and other stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800, eds: Highfill, Philip H. Jr., Kalman A. Burnim and Edward A. Langhans, (Carbondale, Southern Illinois U P, 1973-91), vol. 8, p. 202.
^Jenkins, Terry: "Mrs Carey (c.1773-1848): the other mistress of the Duke of York" Genealogists' Magazine, vol. 33, no. 10 (June 2021), p. 358.
thomas, harris, theatre, manager, thomas, harris, died, 1820, english, theatre, manager, became, proprietor, covent, garden, theatre, life, edithis, background, business, autumn, 1767, with, george, colman, elder, john, rutherford, william, powell, purchased, . Thomas Harris died 1820 was an English theatre manager who became proprietor of Covent Garden Theatre Life editHis background was in business In the autumn of 1767 with George Colman the elder John Rutherford and William Powell he purchased from John Beard the patent of Covent Garden Theatre The theatre opened 14 September 1767 with The Rehearsal in which Powell spoke a prologue by William Whitehead 1 Colman took on a management role but a serious quarrel broke outbetween Harris and Colman arose during the first season driven by the ambitions of Jane Lessingham an actress with whom Harris lived Colman with whom Powell sided barricaded the theatre and Harris supported by Rutherford broke it forcibly open Legal proceedings and a pamphlet war followed On 23 July 1770 a legal decision of the commissioners of the Great Seal reinstated Colman as acting manager subject to the advice and inspection but not the control of his fellows Powell meanwhile had died 3 July 1769 1 On the resignation 26 May 1774 by Colman of his post Harris undertook the duties of stage manager which he held to until his death He was accused of sacrificing to spectacle the artistic interests of the drama He behaved generously to actors however and maintained a good reputation and some personal popularity 1 Harris died on 1 October 1820 at his cottage near Wimbledon and was buried in his family vault at Hillingdon near Uxbridge 1 Family editHis son Henry Harris lived with the actress Nannette Johnston 1811 14 after she left her husband Henry Erskine Johnston later divorcing him 2 Henry later married Elizabeth Logan aka Mrs Carey mistress of the Duke of York in Bath on 31 December 1832 3 A daughter of Harris died in 1802 aged 15 and a son George lived to be a captain in the Royal Navy A sister of Harris married into the family of Longmans the publishers 1 Notes edit a b c d e Stephen Leslie Lee Sidney eds 1891 Harris Thomas Dictionary of National Biography Vol 25 London Smith Elder amp Co Johnston Mrs Henry Erskine the first Nannette nee Parker A biographical Dictionary of Actors Actresses Musicians Dancers Managers and other stage Personnel in London 1660 1800 eds Highfill Philip H Jr Kalman A Burnim and Edward A Langhans Carbondale Southern Illinois U P 1973 91 vol 8 p 202 Jenkins Terry Mrs Carey c 1773 1848 the other mistress of the Duke of York Genealogists Magazine vol 33 no 10 June 2021 p 358 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Stephen Leslie Lee Sidney eds 1891 Harris Thomas Dictionary of National Biography Vol 25 London Smith Elder amp Co Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Harris theatre manager amp oldid 1158142227, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
