29 Facts About Henry Irving

Sir Henry Irving, christened John Henry Brodribb, sometimes known as J H Irving, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility for season after season at the West End's Lyceum Theatre, establishing himself and his company as representative of English classical theatre.

Henry Irving spent his childhood living with his aunt, Mrs Penberthy, at Halsetown in Cornwall.

Henry Irving competed in a recitation contest at a local Methodist chapel where he was beaten by William Curnow, later the editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.

Henry Irving attended City Commercial School for two years before going to work in the office of a law firm at age 13.

Henry Irving married Florence O'Callaghan on 15 July 1869 at St Marylebone, London, but his personal life took second place to his professional life.

Henry Irving maintained a discreet distance from his children as well, but became closer to them as they grew older.

In November 1882 Henry Irving became a Freemason, being initiated into the prestigious Jerusalem Lodge No 197 in London.

Henry Irving eventually took over the management of the Lyceum Theatre and brought actress Ellen Terry into partnership with him as Ophelia to his Hamlet, Lady Macbeth to his Macbeth, Portia to his Shylock, Beatrice to his Benedick, etc.

Years later, when Henry Irving was dead, Marguerite Steen asked Ellen whether she really had been Henry Irving's lover, and she promptly answered: 'Of course I was.

Later in life Henry Irving gave them all regular work when he formed his own Company at the Lyceum Theatre.

Henry Irving gained recognition by degrees, and in 1866 Ruth Herbert engaged him as her leading man and sometime stage director at the St James's Theatre, London, where she first played Doricourt in The Belle's Stratagem.

Henry Irving finally made his first conspicuous success as Digby Grant in James Albery's Two Roses, which was produced at the Vaudeville Theatre on 4 June 1870 and ran for a very successful 300 nights.

In 1871, Henry Irving began his association with the Lyceum Theatre by an engagement under Bateman's management.

The fortunes of the house were at a low ebb when the tide was turned by Henry Irving's sudden success as Mathias in The Bells, a version of Erckmann-Chatrian's Le Juif polonais by Leopold Lewis, a property which Henry Irving had found for himself.

In 1878, Henry Irving entered into a partnership with actress Ellen Terry and re-opened the Lyceum under his own management.

Henry Irving's Shylock was as much discussed as his Hamlet had been, the dignity with which he invested the vengeful Jewish merchant marking a departure from the traditional interpretation of the role.

The fire caused Henry Irving to become involved in ensuring better safety for theatres, and he developed the "Henry Irving Safety Theatre" principles, working with eminent architect Alfred Darbyshire.

Henry Irving enjoyed cultivating rivalries between his followers, and to remain in his circle required constant, careful courting of his notoriously fickle affections.

The chief remaining novelties at the Lyceum during Irving's term as sole manager were Arthur Conan Doyle's Waterloo ; J Comyns Carr's King Arthur in 1895; Cymbeline, in which Irving played Iachimo, in 1896; Sardou's Madame Sans-Gene in 1897; and Peter the Great, a play by Laurence Irving, the actor's second son, in 1898.

Henry Irving received a death threat in 1899 from fellow actor Richard Archer Prince.

Henry Irving was advised to submit the letter to the Home Office to ensure Prince's continued incarceration, which Henry Irving declined to do.

In 1898 Henry Irving was Rede Lecturer at the University of Cambridge.

The new regime at the Lyceum was signalled by the production of Sardou's Robespierre in 1899, in which Henry Irving reappeared after a serious illness, and in 1901 by an elaborate revival of Coriolanus.

On 13 October 1905, at 67 years old, Henry Irving had completed a performance and suffered a stroke after returning to his lodging at the lobby of the Midland Hotel, Bradford, where he died before medical attention could arrive.

Henry Irving was cremated and his ashes buried in Westminster Abbey, thereby becoming the first person ever to be cremated prior to interment at Westminster.

That statue, as well as the influence of Henry Irving himself, plays an important part in the Robertson Davies novel World of Wonders.

Henry Irving received the Komthur Cross, 2nd class, of the Saxe-Ernestine House Order of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Saxe-Meiningen.

Henry Irving's acting divided critics; opinions differed as to the extent to which his mannerisms of voice and deportment interfered with or assisted the expression of his ideas.

Henry Irving sank so low down in his chair that his chin was almost on a level with the table, and twice he kicked Carrie under the table, upset his wine, and flashed a knife uncomfortably near Gowing's face.