Harry Eytinge

Harry Eytinge (1822–1902) was the stage name of American actor, stage manager and producer, Henry S. Eytinge, (also known as Henry St. C. Eytinge) who captained the USS Shepherd Knapp during the American Civil War.

Eytinge was the son of Dutch merchant, Solomon Eytinge, who had settled in Philadelphia and in 1821 married American, Mary Ann Miller. Henry, their first of twelve children, was born in Philadelphia on October 30, 1822. He received a good education before taking to the stage, joining a group of strolling players and getting his first serious role at the age of seventeen with C. A. Logan at the Albany Pearl Street Theatre. The following season he played Mitchell's Olympic Theatre in New York.

He was also interested in the sea and took a break from the stage, sailing to the Netherlands possibly in connection with his father's mercantile business. On his return he continued his stage career and produced a play by Dion Boucicault's, called London Assurance, in Norfolk, Virginia, but it was not profitable. In about 1843 he went to sea again as owner/master of the brig Ganges, trading between America, Europe and the Mediterranean with his father acting as shipping agent. During this period he visited London and appeared in two minor plays in the Strand Theatre – Ben the Boatswain and Monsieur Tonson (1847). After eight years he returned to the American theatre; in 1852 he was a stage manager in Cincinnati and in 1854 entered into a joint management venture with Henry E. Willard at the Metropolitan Theatre and New York Opera House.

At the start of the American Civil War, the US Navy faced a shortage of competent officers. Eytinge volunteered and was accepted by the examining board, but his suitability was later questioned in a letter received by Abraham Lincoln. The letter from a Mr William Fenwick, described Eytinge as a stage manager of the Laura Keene's Theatre and “has seen some but not very creditable Sea Service”. Lincoln asked George W. Blunt, head of New York City's Naval Examining Board, to investigate and he responded, defending the decision to appoint. As a result, Eytinge was given command of the eight gun sailing ship USS Shepherd Knapp and ordered to cruise in the West Indies. The Shepherd Knapp, being a sailing ship, had the advantage over steam powered vessels, of being able to remain at sea for several months at a time. On the first voyage Eytinge became unhappy with the handling of the ship, and in contravention of his orders to remain at sea, called into St. Thomas to load 200 tons of additional ballast.

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