Daniel Terry
Encyclopedia
Daniel Terry was an English actor and playwright, known also as a close associate of Sir Walter Scott.
, under the Rev. Edward Spencer. During five years he was then a pupil of Samuel Wyatt
, the architect.
and was followed by other parts, Thomas Cromwell in Henry VIII
and Edmund in King Lear
. Towards the close of 1805 he joined Stephen Kemble
in the north of England.
On the breaking up in 1806 of Kemble's company, he went to Liverpool
and made a success which recommended him to Henry Siddons
, who brought him out in Edinburgh, 29 November 1809, as Bertrand in William Dimond's Foundling of the Forest. On 12 December he was Antigonus in the The Winter's Tale
, on 8 January 1810 Prospero, and on the 29th Argyle in Joanna Baillie
's Family Legend. Walter Scott, à propos of this role, wrote: ‘A Mr. Terry, who promises to be a fine performer, went through the part of the old earl with great taste and effect.’ Scott also contributed a prologue which Terry spoke.
's Zeluco
. He was announced to reopen, 14 November, the Edinburgh theatre as Lord Ogleby, but was ill and did not appear until the 23rd, and on the 24th he played Shylock. He was on 23 December the first Lord Archibald in Caledonia, or the Thistle and the Rose.
by John Fletcher
, Terry made his first appearance at Covent Garden, where, with frequent migrations to Edinburgh and summer seasons at the Haymarket, he remained until 1822. Among the parts he played in his first season were Sir Robert Bramble in the ‘Poor Gentleman,’ Dornton in the ‘Road to Ruin,’ Ford, Sir Adam Contest in the ‘Wedding Day,’ Ventidius in ‘Antony and Cleopatra,’ Shylock, Churlton, an original part in James Kenney's Debtor and Creditor, 26 April 1814, and Sir Oliver in ‘School for Scandal.’
On 12 March 1816 Guy Mannering, a musical adaptation by Terry of Scott's novel, was seen for the first time. This appears to have been the first of Terry's adaptations from Scott. At the Haymarket he was seen as Periwinkle in A Bold Stroke for a Wife
. In 1815, meanwhile, he had, by permission of the Covent Garden management, supported Sarah Siddons
in her farewell engagement in Edinburgh, where he played Macbeth, ‘The Stranger’ [sic] in Douglas, Wolsey, King John, and the Earl of Warwick. Back at Covent Garden, he was, 7 October 1816, the original Colonel Rigolio in William Dimond's Broken Sword, and on 12 November the original Governor of Surinam in Morton's Slave.
's Youthful Days of Frederick the Great, raised his reputation to the highest point it attained, and on 22 April 1818 he was the first Salerno in Richard Lalor Sheil
's Bellamira.’ In Jameson's Nine Points of the Law he was at the Haymarket, 17 July, Mr. Precise, and in the ‘Green Man,’ 15 August, exhibited what was called a perfect piece of acting as Mr. Green. At Covent Garden he was, 17 April 1819, the first David Deans in his own adaptation, The Heart of Midlothian; played Sir Sampson Legend in Love for Love, Buckingham in Richard III, Prospero, Sir Amias Paulet in Mary Stuart (adapted from Schiller), 14 December 1819, Lord Glenallan, and afterwards was announced for Jonathan Oldbuck in his own and Isaac Pocock
's adaptation, The Antiquary, 25 January 1820. Illness seems to have prevented his playing Oldbuck, which was assigned to John Liston
.
On 17 May he was the first Dentatus in Sheridan Knowles's Virginius. At the Haymarket during the summer seasons Terry played a great round of comic characters. Among many original parts in pieces by James Kenney, J. Dibdin, and others, Terry was Sir Christopher Cranberry in ‘Exchange no Robbery,’ by his friend Theodore Hook, 12 Auguat 1820; the Prince in ‘Match Breaking,’ 20 August 1821; and Shark in ‘Morning, Noon, and Night,’ 9 September 1822.
The season 1823–4 at Drury Lane saw him as Bartolo in ‘Fazio,’ Lord Sands, Menenius in ‘Coriolanus,’ and as the first Antony Foster in a version of ‘Kenilworth,’ 5 January 1824, and the following season as Orozembo in ‘Pizarro,’ Justice Woodcock in ‘Love in a Village,’ Adam in ‘As you like it,’ Moustache in ‘Henri Quatre,’ Hubert in ‘King John,’ and Rochfort in an alteration of the ‘Fatal Dowry.’ Among his original rôles were Zamet in ‘Massaniello,’ 17 February 1825, and Mephistopheles in Dr. Faustus, 16 May.
, he became manager of the Adelphi, opening, 10 October, in a piece called ‘Killigrew.’ On the 31st was produced Edward Fitzball
's adaptation, ‘The Pilot,’ in which Terry was the Pilot. He also appeared in other parts. But he shortly left management because of outside troubles.
and the death of the actor are by Terry cannot be said, many of them being anonymous and unprinted. Terry was almost as well known in Edinburgh as in London, and Scott thought highly of his acting. Terry's idolatry of Scott led him to imitate both his manner and his calligraphy. He also took off Scott’s speech, so as almost to pass for a Scotsman. Scott lent him money for his theatrical speculations, and gave him advice.
Terry's architectural knowledge was of use to Scott, who consulted him while building Abbotsford
; the introduction to Edward Blore
was from him. Terry was responsible also for the British Theatrical Gallery, a collection of whole-length portraits with biographical notes (London, 1825)
After leaving the Adelphi he temporarily retired to the continent, and then re-engaged at Drury Lane and played Polonius and Simpson. Finding himself unable to act, and his memory gone, he gave up his engagement.
On 12 June 1829 he was struck with paralysis, and died during the month.
the painter. Mrs. Terry—who, after Terry's death, married Charles Richardson
the lexicographer—had good taste in design, and seems to have taken a share in the decoration of Abbotsford. Terry left by her a son named after Scott (Walter), after whose fortunes Scott promised to look, and a daughter Jane.
A portrait of Terry by Knight, and one by De Wilde as Barford in ‘Who wants a Guinea?’ are in the Mathews Collection at the Garrick Club. One, as Leon in ‘Rule a Wife and have a Wife,’ is in the ‘Theatrical Inquisitor’ (vol. i.).
Life
He was born in Bath about 1780, and was educated at the Bath grammar school and subsequently at a private school at Wingfield (?Winkfield), WiltshireWiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, under the Rev. Edward Spencer. During five years he was then a pupil of Samuel Wyatt
Samuel Wyatt
Samuel Wyatt was an English architect and engineer. A member of the Wyatt family, which included several notable 18th and 19th century English architects, his work was primarily in a neoclassical style.-Career:...
, the architect.
Actor in the provinces
Having first played at Bath Heartwell in the ‘Prize,’ Terry left Wyatt to join (in 1803 to 1805) the company at Sheffield under the management of William Macready the Elder. His first appearance was as Tressel in Richard IIIRichard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
and was followed by other parts, Thomas Cromwell in Henry VIII
Henry VIII (play)
The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight is a history play by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, based on the life of Henry VIII of England. An alternative title, All is True, is recorded in contemporary documents, the title Henry VIII not appearing until the play's publication...
and Edmund in King Lear
King Lear
King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological...
. Towards the close of 1805 he joined Stephen Kemble
Stephen Kemble
George Stephen Kemble was a successful theatre manager, British actor, writer, and a member of the famous Kemble family....
in the north of England.
On the breaking up in 1806 of Kemble's company, he went to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and made a success which recommended him to Henry Siddons
Henry Siddons
Henry Siddons was an English actor and theatrical manager, now remembered as a writer on gesture.-Life:Born on 4 October 1774, he was the eldest child of Sarah Siddons, and was educated at Charterhouse School, being intended by his mother for the church...
, who brought him out in Edinburgh, 29 November 1809, as Bertrand in William Dimond's Foundling of the Forest. On 12 December he was Antigonus in the The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
, on 8 January 1810 Prospero, and on the 29th Argyle in Joanna Baillie
Joanna Baillie
Joanna Baillie was a Scottish poet and dramatist. Baillie was very well known during her lifetime and, though a woman, intended her plays not for the closet but for the stage. Admired both for her literary powers and her sweetness of disposition, she hosted a brilliant literary society in her...
's Family Legend. Walter Scott, à propos of this role, wrote: ‘A Mr. Terry, who promises to be a fine performer, went through the part of the old earl with great taste and effect.’ Scott also contributed a prologue which Terry spoke.
In London
He was Lord Ogleby in the Clandestine Marriage, 18 November 1810 in Edinburgh. In this part Terry made his first appearance in London at the Haymarket, 20 May 1812. He created some original characters in lesser plays, including Count Salerno in Eyre's ‘Look at Home,’ 15 August 1812, based on John MooreJohn Moore (Scottish physician)
John Moore was a Scottish physician and writer.He was born at Stirling, the son of a clergyman. After taking his medical degree at Glasgow, he served with the army in Flanders during the Seven Years' War, then proceeded to London to continue his studies, and eventually to Paris, where he was...
's Zeluco
Zeluco
Zeluco isa 1789 novel by Scottish author John Moore that centers around the vicious deeds of the eponymous anti-hero, the evil Italian nobleman Zeluco. The novel’s full title is Zeluco: Various Views of Human Nature, Taken from Life and Manners, Foreign and Domestic...
. He was announced to reopen, 14 November, the Edinburgh theatre as Lord Ogleby, but was ill and did not appear until the 23rd, and on the 24th he played Shylock. He was on 23 December the first Lord Archibald in Caledonia, or the Thistle and the Rose.
At Covent Garden
On 8 September 1813, as Leon in Rule a Wife and Have a WifeRule a Wife and Have a Wife
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife is a late Jacobean stage play, a comedy written by John Fletcher. It was first performed in 1624 and first published in 1640....
by John Fletcher
John Fletcher (playwright)
John Fletcher was a Jacobean playwright. Following William Shakespeare as house playwright for the King's Men, he was among the most prolific and influential dramatists of his day; both during his lifetime and in the early Restoration, his fame rivalled Shakespeare's...
, Terry made his first appearance at Covent Garden, where, with frequent migrations to Edinburgh and summer seasons at the Haymarket, he remained until 1822. Among the parts he played in his first season were Sir Robert Bramble in the ‘Poor Gentleman,’ Dornton in the ‘Road to Ruin,’ Ford, Sir Adam Contest in the ‘Wedding Day,’ Ventidius in ‘Antony and Cleopatra,’ Shylock, Churlton, an original part in James Kenney's Debtor and Creditor, 26 April 1814, and Sir Oliver in ‘School for Scandal.’
On 12 March 1816 Guy Mannering, a musical adaptation by Terry of Scott's novel, was seen for the first time. This appears to have been the first of Terry's adaptations from Scott. At the Haymarket he was seen as Periwinkle in A Bold Stroke for a Wife
A Bold Stroke for a Wife
A Bold Stroke for a Wife is Susanna Centlivre's 18th-century satirical English play developed in 1717. The plot expresses the author's unabashed support of the British Whig Party: she criticizes the Tories, religious hypocrisy, and the greed of capitalism....
. In 1815, meanwhile, he had, by permission of the Covent Garden management, supported Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons
Sarah Siddons was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century. She was the elder sister of John Philip Kemble, Charles Kemble, Stephen Kemble, Ann Hatton and Elizabeth Whitlock, and the aunt of Fanny Kemble. She was most famous for her portrayal of the Shakespearean character,...
in her farewell engagement in Edinburgh, where he played Macbeth, ‘The Stranger’ [sic] in Douglas, Wolsey, King John, and the Earl of Warwick. Back at Covent Garden, he was, 7 October 1816, the original Colonel Rigolio in William Dimond's Broken Sword, and on 12 November the original Governor of Surinam in Morton's Slave.
Career peak
On 2 October 1817 his acting of Frederick William, King of Prussia, in William AbbotWilliam Abbot
William Abbot , was an English actor.He was born in Chelsea, London, and made his first appearance on the stage at Bath in 1806, and his first London appearance in 1808. At Covent Garden in 1813, in light comedy and melodrama, he made his first decided success...
's Youthful Days of Frederick the Great, raised his reputation to the highest point it attained, and on 22 April 1818 he was the first Salerno in Richard Lalor Sheil
Richard Lalor Sheil
Richard Lalor Sheil , Irish politician, writer and orator, was born at Drumdowney, Slieverue, County Kilkenny, Ireland...
's Bellamira.’ In Jameson's Nine Points of the Law he was at the Haymarket, 17 July, Mr. Precise, and in the ‘Green Man,’ 15 August, exhibited what was called a perfect piece of acting as Mr. Green. At Covent Garden he was, 17 April 1819, the first David Deans in his own adaptation, The Heart of Midlothian; played Sir Sampson Legend in Love for Love, Buckingham in Richard III, Prospero, Sir Amias Paulet in Mary Stuart (adapted from Schiller), 14 December 1819, Lord Glenallan, and afterwards was announced for Jonathan Oldbuck in his own and Isaac Pocock
Isaac Pocock
Isaac Pocock was an English dramatist and painter of portraits and historical subjects . He wrote melodramas, farces and light operatic comedies, many of his works being adapted for stage from existing novels...
's adaptation, The Antiquary, 25 January 1820. Illness seems to have prevented his playing Oldbuck, which was assigned to John Liston
John Liston
John Liston , English comedian, was born in London.He made his public debut on the stage at Weymouth as Lord Duberley in The Heir-at-law...
.
On 17 May he was the first Dentatus in Sheridan Knowles's Virginius. At the Haymarket during the summer seasons Terry played a great round of comic characters. Among many original parts in pieces by James Kenney, J. Dibdin, and others, Terry was Sir Christopher Cranberry in ‘Exchange no Robbery,’ by his friend Theodore Hook, 12 Auguat 1820; the Prince in ‘Match Breaking,’ 20 August 1821; and Shark in ‘Morning, Noon, and Night,’ 9 September 1822.
Move to Drury Lane
Having quarrelled with the management of Covent Garden on a question of terms, Terry made his first appearance at Drury Lane, 16 October 1822, speaking an occasional address by Colman and playing Sir Peter. At the Haymarket, 7 July, he was the first Admiral Franklin in James Kenney's Sweethearts and Wives, and on 27 September the first Dr. Primrose in a new adaptation by T. Dibdin of the Vicar of Wakefield.The season 1823–4 at Drury Lane saw him as Bartolo in ‘Fazio,’ Lord Sands, Menenius in ‘Coriolanus,’ and as the first Antony Foster in a version of ‘Kenilworth,’ 5 January 1824, and the following season as Orozembo in ‘Pizarro,’ Justice Woodcock in ‘Love in a Village,’ Adam in ‘As you like it,’ Moustache in ‘Henri Quatre,’ Hubert in ‘King John,’ and Rochfort in an alteration of the ‘Fatal Dowry.’ Among his original rôles were Zamet in ‘Massaniello,’ 17 February 1825, and Mephistopheles in Dr. Faustus, 16 May.
Manager
In 1825, in association with his friend Frederick Henry YatesFrederick Henry Yates
Frederick Henry Yates was an English actor and theatre manager-Life:As the youngest son of Thomas Yates, a tobacco manufacturer, of Thames Street and Russell Square, Frederick was educated at a preparatory school at Winchmore Hill and at Charterhouse School...
, he became manager of the Adelphi, opening, 10 October, in a piece called ‘Killigrew.’ On the 31st was produced Edward Fitzball
Edward Fitzball
Edward Fitzball was a popular English playwright, who specialised in melodrama. His real surname was Ball, and he was born at Burwell, Cambridgeshire.Fitzball was educated in Newmarket, was apprenticed to a Norwich printer in 1809...
's adaptation, ‘The Pilot,’ in which Terry was the Pilot. He also appeared in other parts. But he shortly left management because of outside troubles.
Relationship with Walter Scott
Scott consulted Terry on literary questions, especially on plays, and seems to have trusted him with the Doom of Devorgoil, with a view to adapting it for the stage. How many of the numerous stage adaptations of Scott that saw the light between the appearance of WaverleyWaverley (novel)
Waverley is an 1814 historical novel by Sir Walter Scott. Initially published anonymously in 1814 as Scott's first venture into prose fiction, Waverley is often regarded as the first historical novel. It became so popular that Scott's later novels were advertised as being "by the author of...
and the death of the actor are by Terry cannot be said, many of them being anonymous and unprinted. Terry was almost as well known in Edinburgh as in London, and Scott thought highly of his acting. Terry's idolatry of Scott led him to imitate both his manner and his calligraphy. He also took off Scott’s speech, so as almost to pass for a Scotsman. Scott lent him money for his theatrical speculations, and gave him advice.
Terry's architectural knowledge was of use to Scott, who consulted him while building Abbotsford
Abbotsford
Abbotsford may refer to a place in:Australia* Abbotsford, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney, Australia* Abbotsford, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, AustraliaCanada* Abbotsford, British Columbia, a city in Canada...
; the introduction to Edward Blore
Edward Blore
Edward Blore was a 19th century British landscape and architectural artist, architect and antiquary. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland ....
was from him. Terry was responsible also for the British Theatrical Gallery, a collection of whole-length portraits with biographical notes (London, 1825)
Troubles and death
Being intimate with the Ballantynes, Scott’s publishers, Terry took a financial stake in their business, and when their business crash came Scott was saddled with his liability (£1,750). Terry's financial affairs became so involved that he was obliged to retire from management, and he suffered a breakdown.After leaving the Adelphi he temporarily retired to the continent, and then re-engaged at Drury Lane and played Polonius and Simpson. Finding himself unable to act, and his memory gone, he gave up his engagement.
On 12 June 1829 he was struck with paralysis, and died during the month.
Family
Having first married in Liverpool, Terry took as his second wife Elizabeth Nasmyth, the daughter of Alexander NasmythAlexander Nasmyth
Alexander Nasmyth was a Scottish portrait and landscape painter, often called the "father of Scottish landscape painting".-Biography:...
the painter. Mrs. Terry—who, after Terry's death, married Charles Richardson
Charles Richardson (lexicographer)
-Life:He was born at Tulse Hill in July 1775 and started a legal career, but left it early for scholarly and literary pursuits. He kept a school on Clapham Common, and among his pupils there were Charles James Mathews, who assisted Richardson as a copyist, John Mitchell Kemble, and John Maddison...
the lexicographer—had good taste in design, and seems to have taken a share in the decoration of Abbotsford. Terry left by her a son named after Scott (Walter), after whose fortunes Scott promised to look, and a daughter Jane.
A portrait of Terry by Knight, and one by De Wilde as Barford in ‘Who wants a Guinea?’ are in the Mathews Collection at the Garrick Club. One, as Leon in ‘Rule a Wife and have a Wife,’ is in the ‘Theatrical Inquisitor’ (vol. i.).