Augustus Harris
| Sir Augustus Harris | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
Augustus Henry Glossop Harris 18 March 1852 Paris, France |
| Died | 22 June 1896 (aged 44) Folkestone, England |
| Occupation | Actor, impresario, dramatist |
| Years active | 1873–1896 |
| Spouse(s) | Florence Edgcumbe (1881–1896) |
Sir Augustus Henry Glossop Harris (18 March 1852 – 22 June 1896), was a British actor, impresario, and dramatist.
Harris was born in Paris, the son of Augustus Glossop Harris (1825–1873), who was also a dramatist, and his wife, née Maria Ann Bone, a theatrical costumier. He spent his childhood in London, returning to Paris for schooling at age 12. In 1877, he starred in one of the most successful London plays of the day, The Pink Dominos, at the Criterion Theatre, alongside Charles Wyndham.
From 1879, Harris was manager of the Drury Lane Theatre in London, and was nicknamed the "Father of Modern Pantomime" and "Augustus Druriolanus". He introduced Jean de Reszke, Nellie Melba, Emma Eames, and Emma Calvé. His first pantomime production was Bluebeard, the next Forty Thieves. He produced and co-wrote the scripts for large-scale pantomimes at Drury Lane every Christmas that became the most popular holiday entertainments in London, assembling a famous company, including Herbert Campbell, Dan Leno and Harry Nicholls.
Harris took an interest in politics, and became a member of the London County Council in 1890, representing the Strand division. He was appointed a sheriff in 1891 and deputy lieutenant of the city of London. He was knighted in 1891 and was a chairman of the Eccentric Club.
He died at Folkestone, England in 1896 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London at the south side of the central enclosed roundel, marked by a suitably dramatic monument.
On 9 November 1881 he married Florence Edgcumbe Rendle at St Luke's Church, Redcliffe Gardens. The bride was given away by her brother, Mr. Francis Rendle. The wedding was strictly a private one and they then went to Paris by the ten o'clock express. After the death of Sir Augustus she married Edward O'Connor Terry on 24 October 1904 at Barnes, where she later lived. She died on 5 September 1914.
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