Francis Albert Marshall
Encyclopedia
Francis Albert Marshall (November 1840, London–28 December 1889, London) was a British playwright
.
of Patterdale Hall and Hallstead, Westmoreland
. The father was M.P. for Beverley (1831-2), Carlisle (1835–47) and East Cumberland (1847–65) and married, 17 June 1828, Georgiana Christiana, seventh daughter of George Hibbert of Munden, Hertfordshire
.
Francis was educated at Harrow
, and matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford
, on 14 June 1859, but did not take a degree. He was for some years a clerk in the audit office in Somerset House
, but soon began contributing to newspapers and periodicals, and in 1868 resigned his appointment. He had already made some reputation as a playwright, and soon afterwards became dramatic critic to the London Figaro
.
With W. G. Wills
he produced Cora, a drama in three acts, Globe Theatre, 28 February 1877. For his friend Henry Irving
he wrote two pieces, a drama in four acts, founded on the history of Robert Emmet
, and a version of Werner, altered and adapted for the stage. The latter was produced at the Lyceum Theatre on the occasion of the benefit given to Westland Marston by Henry Irving on 1 June 1887. Marshall's Robert Emmet has not been put on the stage. During his last years he edited, with the assistance of many competent scholars, a new edition of the works of Shakespeare, called The Henry Irving Edition. (Sir) Henry Irving contributed an introduction. Marshall was a genial companion, and collected a valuable library.
He died, after some years of declining health, at 8 Bloomsbury Square, London, 28 December 1889.
His first wife died on 19 February 1885; and he married secondly, on 2 May 1885, Ada Cavendish
, an actress.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
.
Life
He was the fifth son of William Marshall (1796-1872)William Marshall (1796-1872)
William Marshall was an English politician, the Member of Parliament for Beverley , for Carlisle , and for East Cumberland...
of Patterdale Hall and Hallstead, Westmoreland
Westmoreland
Westmoreland is a historic county in England. It may also refer to:-Places:Australia*Westmoreland County, New South WalesCanada*Westmorland County, New BrunswickJamaica*Westmoreland, Jamaica, a parishNew Zealand...
. The father was M.P. for Beverley (1831-2), Carlisle (1835–47) and East Cumberland (1847–65) and married, 17 June 1828, Georgiana Christiana, seventh daughter of George Hibbert of Munden, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.
Francis was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
, and matriculated from Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, on 14 June 1859, but did not take a degree. He was for some years a clerk in the audit office in Somerset House
Somerset House
Somerset House is a large building situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, England, overlooking the River Thames, just east of Waterloo Bridge. The central block of the Neoclassical building, the outstanding project of the architect Sir William Chambers, dates from 1776–96. It...
, but soon began contributing to newspapers and periodicals, and in 1868 resigned his appointment. He had already made some reputation as a playwright, and soon afterwards became dramatic critic to the London Figaro
London Figaro
The London Figaro was a London periodical devoted to politics, literature, art, criticism and satire during the Victorian era. It was founded as a daily paper in 1870 with the backing of Napoleon III but after a year re-established itself as a general interest weekly magazine and is chiefly...
.
With W. G. Wills
William Gorman Wills
William Gorman Wills , was an Irish dramatist and painter.-Biography:The son of James Wills , author of Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished Irishmen, William was born in Dublin and educated at Waterford Grammar School and Trinity College, Dublin.After publishing his novel Old Times in an Irish...
he produced Cora, a drama in three acts, Globe Theatre, 28 February 1877. For his friend Henry Irving
Henry Irving
Sir Henry Irving , born John Henry Brodribb, 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 Lyceum Theatre, establishing himself and his company as...
he wrote two pieces, a drama in four acts, founded on the history of Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet was an Irish nationalist and Republican, orator and rebel leader born in Dublin, Ireland...
, and a version of Werner, altered and adapted for the stage. The latter was produced at the Lyceum Theatre on the occasion of the benefit given to Westland Marston by Henry Irving on 1 June 1887. Marshall's Robert Emmet has not been put on the stage. During his last years he edited, with the assistance of many competent scholars, a new edition of the works of Shakespeare, called The Henry Irving Edition. (Sir) Henry Irving contributed an introduction. Marshall was a genial companion, and collected a valuable library.
He died, after some years of declining health, at 8 Bloomsbury Square, London, 28 December 1889.
His first wife died on 19 February 1885; and he married secondly, on 2 May 1885, Ada Cavendish
Ada Cavendish
Ada Cavendish was an English actress known for her Shakesperean roles and for popularising the plays of Wilkie Collins in America....
, an actress.
Plays
- Mad as a Hatter, a farce produced at the Royalty TheatreRoyalty TheatreThe Royalty Theatre was a small London theatre situated at 73 Dean Street, Soho and opened on 25 May 1840 as Miss Kelly's Theatre and Dramatic School and finally closed to the public in 1938. The architect was Samuel Beazley, a resident in Soho Square, who also designed St James's Theatre, among...
, 7 Dec. 1863. - Corrupt Practices, a drama in two acts, Lyceum Theatre, 22 Jan. 1870.
- Q. E. D., or All a Mistake, a comedietta, Court Theatre, 25 Jan. 1871.
- False Shame, a comedy in three acts, Globe TheatreGlobe Theatre (Newcastle Street)The Globe was a Victorian theatre built in 1868 and demolished in 1902. It was the third of five London theatres to bear the name. It was also known at various times as the Royal Globe Theatre or Globe Theatre Royal. Its repertoire consisted mainly of comedies and musical shows...
, 4 Nov. 1872. - Brighton, a comedy in four acts, founded on Bronson Howard's Saratoga, Court Theatre, 25 May 1874.
- Biohn, a romantic opera in five acts, with music by Lauro Rossi, Queen's TheatreQueen's TheatreThe Queen's Theatre is a West End theatre located in Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. It opened on 8 October 1907 as a twin to the neighbouring Gielgud Theatre which opened ten months earlier. Both theatres were designed by W.G.R...
, 17 Jan. 1877, in which his wife, Mrs. Fitzinman Marshall, appeared as Elfrida, and was a failure. - Family Honours, a comedy in three acts, Aquarium Theatre, 18 May 1878.
- Lola, or the Belle of Baccarato, a comic opera, with music by Antonio Orsini, Olympic TheatreOlympic TheatreThe Olympic Theatre, sometimes known as the Royal Olympic Theatre, was a 19th-century London theatre, opened in 1806 and located at the junction of Drury Lane, Wych Street, and Newcastle Street. The theatre specialised in comedies throughout much of its existence...
, 15 Jan. 1881.
Printed works
- A Study of Hamlet, 1875.
- Henry Irving, Actor and Manager, by an Irvingite, 1883.
- L. S. D., an unfinished novel, brought out in the Britannia Magazine.