Frederick Reynolds

Frederic Reynolds, (November 1, 1764 – April 16, 1841), British dramatist, during his literary career composed nearly one hundred tragedies and comedies, many of which were printed, and about twenty of them obtained temporary popularity. Reynolds’s plays were slight, and are described as having been “aimed at the modes and follies of the moment.” He is still occasionally remembered for his caricature of Samuel Ireland as Sir Bamber Blackletter in Fortune's Fool, [Bernard Grebanier, "The Great Shakespeare Forgery" (New York, 1965), pp. 261-263.] and for his adaptations of some of Shakespeare's comedies. [George Clinton Densmore Odell, "Shakespeare from Betterton to Irving", New York, 1920, volume 2, pp. 131-142.]

Early life

Born in Lime Street, London, Frederic Reynolds was the grandson of an opulent merchant at Trowbridge, and the son of a whig attorney who acted for Chatham, Wilkes, and many other prominent politicians. His mother was the daughter of a rich city merchant named West. For many years his father's business was very prosperous, but about 1787 he was involved in financial difficulties. When about six years old the boy was sent to a boarding-school at Walthamstow, and on 22 Jan. 1776 he was admitted at Westminster school. [Barker and Stenning, "West. School Reg." p. 193, cited in DNB.] On 12 Jan. 1782 he was entered at the Middle Temple, but he soon abandoned the law for playwriting.

Plays

His first piece, "Werter", was founded on Goethe’s novel, and was produced at the Bath Theatre on 25 November 1785, and at Covent Garden Theatre, London, for Miss Brunton’s benefit, on 14 March 1786. In later years it was often reproduced on the stage, and it was printed both in London and Dublin, the play being cut down about 1795 from five to three acts. [Genest, "English Stage", vi. 897, 418-19, cited in DNB.] "Eloisa", his second drama, was produced at Covent Garden in December 1786. ["ib." vi. 441-2, cited in DNB.] Reynolds now abandoned tragedy for comedy, and his first comedy, "The Dramatist", submitted to the public at the benefit of Mrs. Wells, 15 May 1789 [Baker, "Biogr. Dramatica", cited in DNB.] was received with great applause. It was performed before George III at Covent Garden on his first visit to the theater after his illness, 18 Oct. 1789. He wrote two pieces in conjunction with Miles Peter Andrews. His play, "The Caravan, or the Driver and his Dog," was performed at Drury Lane, with the introduction of a live dog that was trained to save a child from drowning by leaping from a rock and plunging into real water. It is still remembered through a jest of Sheridan, who burst into the greenroom, when the success of the play was established, with the shout of inquiry, “Where is he, my guardian angel?” The answer was made, “The author has just retired,” but Sheridan replied, “Pooh ! I mean the dog-actor, author and preserver of Drury Lane Theatre.”

Family

He married, on 16 March 1799, Miss Mansel, ["Gentleman's Magazine", 1799, p. 251. [http://books.google.com/books?id=Bk0DAAAAMAAJ&printsec=titlepage&source=gbs_summary_r#PPA251,M1 at Google] ] a young lady from South Wales, who had taken to the stage and was then engaged at the Covent Garden Theatre. His eldest son, Frederic Mansel Reynolds, was a novelist and editor of "The Keepsake".

Later career

From 1814 to 1822 Reynolds was permanently engaged at Covent Garden Theatre as “thinker” for the management, and after the lapse of a year he discharged the same duties for Elliston at Drury Lane. In 1831 appeared a novel by him, "A Playwright’s Adventures," published as the first volume of the "Dramatic Annual." His last work was the pantomime produced at the Adelphi Theatre, London, at Christmas 1840. He died on 16 April 1841.

Notes

This article incorporates text from W. P. Courtney's entry on Frederic Reynolds in the "Dictionary of National Biography", a composition in the public domain.

ee also

Frederic Reynolds, "The Life and Times of Frederic Reynolds, written by himself", London, 1827, [http://books.google.com/books?id=WmIOQLg2iTwC&printsec=titlepage volume 1] and [http://books.google.com/books?id=8EILAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1#PPP7,M1 volume 2] .

W. P. Courtney, "Frederic Reynolds," in "Dictionary of National Biography", New York, 1909, volume 16, [http://books.google.com/books?id=SCw8AAAAIAAJ&printsec=titlepage&source=gbs_summary_r#PPA927,M1 pp. 927-928.]