Augustus Harris

Sir Augustus Henry Glossop Harris (18 March 1852 – 22 June 1896), was a British actor, impresario, and dramatist.

Early life

Harris was born in Paris, France, the son of Augustus Glossop Harris (1825-1873), who was also a dramatist.

Career

From 1879, he was manager of the Drury Lane Theatre in London, England, and was nicknamed the "Father of Modern Pantomime" and "Augustus Druriolanus."

Plays

Plays written by Harris, some in collaboration with Petit and Hamilton, included: "The World" (his first production), "Youth", "Human Nature", "A Run of Luck", "The Spanish Armada", "A Million of Money", "The Prodigal Daughter", "A Life of Pleasure", and "The Derby Winner", produced in the United States under the title "The Sporting Duchess". With Francis Clement Philips, he co-authored the play "A Puzzled Painter", which was published after his death.

With Henry Pettitt, he wrote the play "Burmah", produced on Broadway in 1896.

Later life

Harris also took an interest in politics, and became a member of the London County Council, representing the Strand division. He was appointed sheriff in 1891 and deputy lieutenant of the city of London. He was knighted in 1891.

He died at Folkestone, England in 1896 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. [http://www.brompton.org/Residents.htm]

Personal life

He married Florence Edgcumbe (d. 5 September 1914), who later married Edward Terry some time after he died.

Legacy

Harris is commemorated at the Drury Lane Theatre with a publicly funded memorial fountain featuring masonic symbols (he was a freemason).

External links

*
*imdb name|id=0364451|name=Augustus Harris
*ibdb name|id=406091|name=Augustus Harris
* [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/portrait.asp?search=ss&sText=glossop&LinkID=mp02058&rNo=0&role=sit Portrait]
* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=299&letter=H Biography at the Jewish Encyclopedia]

References

* Oxford Dictionary of National Biography