London Figaro
Encyclopedia
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 remembered nowadays for its highly independent drama criticism.
The first issue was published by James Mortimer
on May 17, 1870 from a small shop at 199 Strand
. It was initially a daily periodical and continued to be published daily until March 18, 1871. At this point it changed format from a newspaper to a weekly magazine owing to the withdrawal of its financial support as a result of French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War
.
Among those who contributed to it were William Archer
(writing as Almaviva, drama critic), Ernest Bendall, Faustin Betbeder
(Faustin, caricaturist), Percy Betts (Cherubino, musical critic), Ambrose Bierce
(Passing Showman, Town Crier), Edward Bradley
(Cuthbert Bede), Aglen Dowty (Young and Happy Husband, OPQ Philander Smiff), John Baker Hopkins, Frank Marshall
, Edwin Milliken, Clement Scott
(Almaviva, drama critic), and Edward Blanchard (drama critic). Mortimer was a chess master and so the Figaro had a chess column, which from 1872 until 1876 was contributed by Johann Löwenthal
and from 1876 to 1882 by Wilhelm Steinitz
.
The magazine became very popular during the mid-1870s and for several years was published twice a week. Mortimer was very supportive of his writers and in particular strove to shield the identities of his drama critics, Clement Scott, and later William Archer, both of whom wrote under the pseudonym, Almaviva. Mortimer suffered much personal abuse from actors and promoters as a result.
In 1879 Mortimer was the defendant in a libel case brought against him by William Henry Weldon as a result of the serial which the Figaro had run on the topic of Georgina Weldon
, his wife, who claimed that she had been unjustly confined under the lunacy laws of the time. Owing to a combination of misfortune and bad decisions Mortimer lost the case and was sentenced to three months in prison and a heavy fine.
In 1882 Mortimer sold the Figaro. Writing in Journalistic London later in the year, Joseph Hatton
, said,
The magazine continued in publication for another 15 years. By the late 1890s however it had lost a lot of its readership and at a shareholders' Extraordinary General Meeting in December 1897, it was agreed to wind it up.
The first issue was published by James Mortimer
James Mortimer
James Mortimer was an American chess player, journalist, and playwright who spent the last 40 years of his life in Britain.-Life:...
on May 17, 1870 from a small shop at 199 Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
. It was initially a daily periodical and continued to be published daily until March 18, 1871. At this point it changed format from a newspaper to a weekly magazine owing to the withdrawal of its financial support as a result of French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
.
Among those who contributed to it were William Archer
William Archer
William Archer may refer to:* William S. Archer , U.S. Senator and Representative from Virginia* William Archer Irish naturalist and microscopist especially interested in Protozoa and Desmids...
(writing as Almaviva, drama critic), Ernest Bendall, Faustin Betbeder
Faustin Betbeder
Faustin Betbeder was born in Soissons, France in 1847 and lived until sometime around 1914. He became an artist, noted for his unflattering caricatures of personalities from both sides of the Franco-Prussian war and its aftermath. He had difficulty in finding a publisher for the first set of these...
(Faustin, caricaturist), Percy Betts (Cherubino, musical critic), Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist and satirist...
(Passing Showman, Town Crier), Edward Bradley
Edward Bradley (writer)
Edward Bradley was an English novelist and clergyman. He was born in Kidderminster and educated at Durham University . He wrote under the name of Cuthbert M. Bede, B.A. a few novels and tales, Fairy Fables , Glencraggan , Fotheringhay , etc...
(Cuthbert Bede), Aglen Dowty (Young and Happy Husband, OPQ Philander Smiff), John Baker Hopkins, Frank Marshall
Francis Albert Marshall
Francis Albert Marshall was a British playwright.-Life:He was the fifth son of William Marshall of Patterdale Hall and Hallstead, Westmoreland. The father was M.P...
, Edwin Milliken, Clement Scott
Clement Scott
Clement Scott was an influential English theatre critic for the Daily Telegraph, and a playwright and travel writer, in the final decades of the 19th century...
(Almaviva, drama critic), and Edward Blanchard (drama critic). Mortimer was a chess master and so the Figaro had a chess column, which from 1872 until 1876 was contributed by Johann Löwenthal
Johann Löwenthal
Johann Jacob Löwenthal was a professional chess master.Löwenthal was born in Budapest, the son of a Jewish merchant. He was educated at the gymnasium of his native city. In 1846, he won a match against Carl Hamppe in Vienna...
and from 1876 to 1882 by Wilhelm Steinitz
Wilhelm Steinitz
Wilhelm Steinitz was an Austrian and then American chess player and the first undisputed world chess champion from 1886 to 1894. From the 1870s onwards, commentators have debated whether Steinitz was effectively the champion earlier...
.
The magazine became very popular during the mid-1870s and for several years was published twice a week. Mortimer was very supportive of his writers and in particular strove to shield the identities of his drama critics, Clement Scott, and later William Archer, both of whom wrote under the pseudonym, Almaviva. Mortimer suffered much personal abuse from actors and promoters as a result.
In 1879 Mortimer was the defendant in a libel case brought against him by William Henry Weldon as a result of the serial which the Figaro had run on the topic of Georgina Weldon
Georgina Weldon
Georgina Weldon was a British campaigner against the lunacy laws, a celebrated litigant and noted amateur soprano of the Victorian era.-Early years:...
, his wife, who claimed that she had been unjustly confined under the lunacy laws of the time. Owing to a combination of misfortune and bad decisions Mortimer lost the case and was sentenced to three months in prison and a heavy fine.
In 1882 Mortimer sold the Figaro. Writing in Journalistic London later in the year, Joseph Hatton
Joseph Hatton
Joseph Paul Christopher Hatton was a novelist and journalist. He was the editor of The Sunday Times from1874 to 1881.- Life :...
, said,
- The Figaro once prospered exceedingly. Its founder, Mr. James Mortimer, an American with a French training in journalism, first introduced it to London as a daily paper. He was unfortunate in challenging attention for a light, chatty, and serio-comic treatment of current news and literature at a time when the public mind was excited with the tragedies of a great war. Otherwise the daily Figaro might possibly have been alive now. A weekly edition reached an enormous circulation. Its chief leader-writer was Mr. John Baker Hopkins, a journalist who for many years was associated with The Law Journal. Mr. Hopkins is the author of " Nihilism ; or, The Terror Unmasked," and several works of fiction. "The Smiff Papers " did much to extend the circulation of The Figaro, as did also the dramatic criticisms signed "Alma Viva." Mr. Doughty was the author of the first mentioned feature, Mr. Clement Scott of the second. Recently the paper has been taken over by a limited liability company, and Mr. Mortimer appears to be giving more attention to play-writing than to journalism.
The magazine continued in publication for another 15 years. By the late 1890s however it had lost a lot of its readership and at a shareholders' Extraordinary General Meeting in December 1897, it was agreed to wind it up.
External links
- The New International Year book of 1912
- The Empress Eugénie and her son By Edward Legge; Published by Dodd, Mead & Co, New York, 1916
- Journalistic London by Joseph Hatton, pp93–94, London: 1882
- The London Gazette, p188, Jan 11th, 1898