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For other persons named Henry Irving, see Henry Irving (disambiguation). Henry Irving may refer to Henry Turner Irving (1833-1923 Governor of British Guyana Henry Irving (1838 - 1905 - English
Sir Henry Irving

Sir Henry Irving
BornJohn Henry Brodribb
6 February 1838
Keinton Mandeville, Somerset
Died13 October 1905
Bradford
OccupationActor
Years active1856–1905 (his death)
Spouse(s)Florence O’Callaghan
Sir Henry Irving, as Hamlet, in an 1893 illustration from The Idler magazine
Sir Henry Irving, as Hamlet, in an 1893 illustration from The Idler magazine

Sir Henry Irving (February 6, 1838 – October 13, 1905), born John Henry Brodribb, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1838 ( MDCCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Keinton Mandeville is a village and Parish in Somerset, England, situated six Miles west of Castle Cary in the South Somerset Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Bradford ( lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a Metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1838 ( MDCCCXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Culture The Victorian fascination with novelty resulted in a deep interest in the relationship between modernity and cultural continuities He was the first actor to be awarded a knighthood. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages.

Contents

Life and career

Irving was born at Keinton Mandeville in the county of Somerset. Keinton Mandeville is a village and Parish in Somerset, England, situated six Miles west of Castle Cary in the South Somerset Somerset ( or) is a county in south west England The County town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county His elder son, Harry Brodribb Irving (1870-1919), usually known as "H B Irving", became a famous actor and later a theatre manager. Harry Brodribb Irving ( August 5, 1870 - October 17 1919) was a British stage actor the eldest son of Sir Henry Irving, and Father and son are occasionally confused. His other son, Laurence Irving (1871-1914), became a dramatist. Laurence Sydney Brodribb Irving (1871-1914 was an English Dramatist and Novelist. A playwright, also known as a dramatist, is a person who writes dramatic literature or Drama.

Early career

After a few years schooling, he became a clerk to a firm of East India merchants in London, but he soon gave up a commercial career and started as an actor. On 29 September 1856 he made his first appearance at Sunderland as Gaston, Duke of Orleans, in Bulwer Lytton's play, Richelieu, billed as Henry Irving. Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton 1st Baron Lytton ( May 25, 1803 – This name he eventually assumed by royal licence.

For ten years, he went through an arduous training in various stock companies in Scotland and the north of England, acting in more than five hundred parts. By degrees his talent gained recognition, and in 1866 he obtained an engagement at the St. James's Theatre, London, to play Doricourt in The Belle's Stratagem. St James's Theatre ( est 1835 was a 1200-seat theatre located in King Street at Duke Street St James's, London. A year later he joined the company of the newly-opened Queen's Theatre, where he acted with Charles Wyndham, J. L. Toole, Lionel Brough, John Clayton, Mr. Sir Charles Wyndham ( 23 March 1837 &ndash 1919 was an English Actor, was born Charles Culverwell in Liverpool, the son John Lawrence (J L Toole ( 12 March 1830 &ndash 30 July 1906) was an English comic Actor and theatrical producer and Mrs. Alfred Wigan, Ellen Terry and Nellie Farren. Dame Ellen Terry GBE ( 27 February 1847 &ndash 21 July 1928) was an English stage actress. Nellie Farren (1848 &ndash April 29 1904) was an English Actress and singer best known for her roles as the "principal boy" in burlesques This was followed by short engagements at the Haymarket Theatre, Drury Lane, and the Gaiety Theatre. Haymarket Theatre (Leicester|Her Majesty's Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket or Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre is a West End theatre in The Gaiety Theatre London was a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located on Aldwych at the eastern end of the Strand. At last he made his first conspicuous success as Digby Grant in James Albery's Two Roses, which was produced at the Vaudeville Theatre on the 4 June 1870 and ran for a very successful 300 nights. James Albery ( May 4 1838 &ndash August 15 1889) was an English Dramatist. This article discusses a performance space For the theatrical genre please see Vaudeville. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

In 1871, Irving began his association with the Lyceum Theatre by an engagement under Bateman's management. The Lyceum Theatre is a 2000-seat West End theatre located in the City of Westminster, on Wellington Street just off the Strand. The fortunes of the house were at a low ebb when the tide was turned by Irving's sudden success as Mathias in The Bells, a version of Erckmann-Chatrian's Le Juif Polonais by Leopold Lewis. Erckmann-Chatrian was the name used by French authors Émile Erckmann (1822-1899 and Alexandre Chatrian (1826-1890 nearly all of whose works were jointly written Leopold Davis Lewis (1828 &ndash February 23, 1890) was an English Dramatist. The play ran for 150 nights. With Miss Bateman, Irving was seen in W. G. Wills' Charles I and Eugene Aram, in Richelieu, and in 1874 in Hamlet. William Gorman Wills ( January 28, 1828 &ndash December 13, 1891) was a Dublin -born Dramatist and painter Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 The unconventionality of this last performance, during a run of 200 nights, aroused keen discussion and singled him out as the most interesting English actor of his day. In 1875, again with Miss Bateman, he was seen as the title character in Macbeth; in 1876 as Othello, and as Philip in Alfred Lord Tennyson's Queen Mary; in 1877 in Richard III; and in The Lyons Mail. Macbeth is among the best-known of William Shakespeare 's plays, and is his shortest tragedy, believed to have been written some time between Alfred Tennyson 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892 was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and remains one of the most popular English poets

Peak years

In 1878, Irving entered into a partnership with the actress Ellen Terry and re-opened the Lyceum under his own management. Dame Ellen Terry GBE ( 27 February 1847 &ndash 21 July 1928) was an English stage actress. With Ellen Terry as Ophelia and Portia, he revived Hamlet and produced The Merchant of Venice (1879). Dame Ellen Terry GBE ( 27 February 1847 &ndash 21 July 1928) was an English stage actress. Hamlet is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601 The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598 His Shylock was as much discussed as his Hamlet had been, the dignity with which he invested the Jew marking a departure from the traditional interpretation of the role, and pleasing some as much as it offended others. Shylock is a central character in Shakespeare 's The Merchant of Venice who famously demanded a pound of flesh from the title character It is this portrayal which is the origin of the practice of naming Jewish boys "Irving".

After the production of Tennyson's The Cup and revivals of Othello (in which Irving played Iago to Edwin Booth's title character) and Romeo and Juliet, there began a period at the Lyceum which had a potent effect on the English stage. Edwin Thomas Booth (13 November 1833 &ndash 7 June 1893 was a famous 19th century American Actor. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the The Lyceum stage management, and the brilliance of its productions in scenery, dressing and accessories, were revelations in the art of mise-en-scene.

Much Ado about Nothing (1882) was followed by Twelfth Night (1884); an adaptation of Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield by W. Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. First published in 1600 it is likely to have been first performed in the autumn or winter Twelfth Night Or What You Will is a Comedy by William Shakespeare, based on the Short story "Of Apolonius and Silla" by G. Wills (1885); Faust (1886); Macbeth (1888); The Dead Heart, by Watts Phillips (1889); Ravenswood by Herman, and Merivales' dramatic version of Scotts Bride of Lammermoor (1890). Fine portrayals in 1892 of the characters of Wolsey in Henry VIII and of the title character in King Lear were followed in 1893 by a striking and dignified performance of Becket in Tennyson's play of the same name. Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (c1470–1471 – November 28 or November 29 1530 who was born in Ipswich Suffolk England was an English Statesman and a cardinal The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eighth is a history play by William Shakespeare, based on the life of Henry VIII of England. King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606 and is considered one of his greatest works St Thomas Becket (c 1118 &ndash December 29, 1170) was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 to 1170 Alfred Tennyson 1st Baron Tennyson (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892 was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom and remains one of the most popular English poets During these years, too, Irving, with the whole Lyceum company, paid several successful visits to America, which were repeated in succeeding years.

Later years

The statue of Sir Henry Irving in London, behind the National Portrait Gallery
The statue of Sir Henry Irving in London, behind the National Portrait Gallery

The chief remaining novelties at the Lyceum (luring Irving's sole manager (the theatre passed, at the beginning of 1899, into the hands of a limited liability company) were J. Comyns Carr's King Arthur in 1895; Cymbeline, in which Irving played Iachimo, in 1896; Sardou's Madame Sans-Gene in 1897; Peter the Great, a play by Laurence Irving, the actor's second son, in 1898; and Arthur Conan Doyle's Waterloo (1894) (see King, Henry Irving's 'Waterloo'). Joseph William Comyns Carr (1 March 1849 – 12 December 1916 was an English drama and art critic gallery director author poet playwright and theatre manager This article is about Shakespeare's play For the mythical British king see Cunobelinus. Sardou is a surname and may refer to Victorien Sardou, French dramatist Michel Sardou, French singer Romain Sardou, Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle, DL (22 May 1859 – 7 July 1930 was an Anglo-Scottish Author most noted for his stories about the The new regime at the Lyceum was signalized by the production of Sardou's Robespierre in 1899, in which Irving reappeared after a serious illness, and in 1901 by an elaborate revival of Coriolanus. Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre (maksimiljɛ̃ fʁɑ̃swa maʁi izidɔʁ də ʁɔbɛspjɛʁ ( 6 May 1758 – 28 July 1794) Coriolanus is a Tragedy by William Shakespeare, based on the life of the legendary Roman leader Gaius Martius Coriolanus. Irving's only subsequent production in London was as Sardou's Dante (1903), a spectacularly staged drama, at the Drury Lane.

Irving died shortly after suffering a stroke during a performance whilst on tour in Bradford on 13 October 1905, aged 67. Bradford ( lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a Metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting F Anstey describes the scene in his 'Long Retrospect':

"Within three months, on October 13, 1905, Henry Irving, when appearing as Becket at the Bradford Theatre, was seized with syncope just after uttering Becket's dying words 'Into thy hands, O Lord, into thy hands', and though he lived for an hour or so longer he never spoke again. Events 54 - Nero ascends to the Roman throne 409 - Vandals and Alans crossed the Pyrenees Year 1905 ( MCMV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting "

He was brought to the lobby of the Midland Hotel, where he died. He was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey. The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church There is a statue of him near the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Irving as an innovator

Both on and off the stage, Irving always maintained a high ideal of his profession, and in 1895 he received the honour of knighthood, the first ever accorded an actor. He was also the recipient of honorary degrees from the universities of Dublin, Cambridge, and Glasgow. His acting, apart from his genius as a presenter of plays, divided criticism, opinions differing as to the extent to which his mannerisms of voice and deportment interfered with or assisted the expression of his ideas. So strongly marked a personality as his could not help giving its own colouring to whatever part he might assume, but the richness and originality of this colouring at its best, and the spirit and intellect which characterised his renderings, was conceded by even his critics, as was his versatility in roles so widely different as Digby Grant and Louis XI, Richard III and Becket, Benedick and Shylock, Mathias and Dr. Primrose.

References

External links

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. Find A Grave is a Website allowing its users to access maintain and expand an online Database of Burial records The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone

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