John Palgrave Simpson
Encyclopedia
John Palgrave Simpson was a Victorian playwright. He wrote more than fifty pieces in a variety of genres, including dramas, comedies, operas, and spectacles, between 1850 and 1885. Simpson also published novels, travel books and journalistic commentaries. He served as secretary of the Dramatic Authors' Society from 1868 to 1883.
, the second of the six children of William and Katherine Simpson. His father was town clerk of Norwich
and treasurer of the county of Norfolk
. Simpson was educated by private tutors and at Corpus Christi College
, Cambridge
, where he took his B.A. in 1829 and M.A. in 1832. When he completed his studies, his parents encouraged him to enter the priesthood; instead, for the next fifteen years he traveled on the Continent, mainly living in Germany
, at his father's expense. In 1842 he converted to Roman Catholicism in Munich
.
audiences in the second half of the century. Simpson wrote more than 25 plays in a variety of styles. One of his most successful works was A Scrap of Paper, which opened at the St. James's Theatre on 22 April 1861. On 10 May 1865 Simpson's A Fair Pretender became one of the first plays staged at Marie Effie Wilton's Prince of Wales's Theatre. The Times (13 May 1865) described the play as "nightly thronged by one of the most fashionable audiences in London." In 1865 Simpson published Carl Maria von Weber: The Life of an Artist, a two-volume translation of the 1864 memoir
of the composer by his son, Baron Max Maria von Weber. In 1868 Simpson was elected secretary
of the Dramatic Authors' Society, which had been founded in 1833. In The profession of the Playwright: British Theatre 1800-1900 (1992). Simpson's output was less prolific in the 1870s, perhaps as a consequence of his duties with the Dramatic Authors' Society, and he turned increasingly to adaptation and collaborations. In 1873 Simpson joined the young dramatist Herman Merivale
to write Alone, which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre
on 25 October. Simpson used Charles Dickens
's novel Bleak House (1853) as the basis for Lady Dedlock's Secret, which premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen
on 3 April 1874 and appeared in Liverpool the same year but did not play in London
until it opened at the Opera Comique
on 26 March 1884. He collaborated with Merivale
on an adaptation of Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities (1859) titled All for Her, which opened at the Mirror Theatre on 18 October 1875 and was revived into the 1890s. He also collaborated with Claude Templar on The Scar on the Wrist, which premiered at the St. James's on 9 March 1878, and on Zillah, which opened at the Lyceum
on August 1879. In 1888 Coleman
reflected that "the only work of Palgrave Simpson's which still holds the stage is Scrap of Paper.
Biography
John Palgrave Simpson was born on 13 June 1807 in NorwichNorwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, the second of the six children of William and Katherine Simpson. His father was town clerk of Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
and treasurer of the county of Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. Simpson was educated by private tutors and at Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where he took his B.A. in 1829 and M.A. in 1832. When he completed his studies, his parents encouraged him to enter the priesthood; instead, for the next fifteen years he traveled on the Continent, mainly living in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, at his father's expense. In 1842 he converted to Roman Catholicism in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
.
Literary career
While never a groundbreaking playwright, Simpson was attuned to the interests of his audiences. His work was largely sentimental and his depictions of fractured father-daughter relationships, contested fortunes, mistaken identities, and trusting country folk versus scheming city dwellers reflect the melodramatic tastes of VictorianVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
audiences in the second half of the century. Simpson wrote more than 25 plays in a variety of styles. One of his most successful works was A Scrap of Paper, which opened at the St. James's Theatre on 22 April 1861. On 10 May 1865 Simpson's A Fair Pretender became one of the first plays staged at Marie Effie Wilton's Prince of Wales's Theatre. The Times (13 May 1865) described the play as "nightly thronged by one of the most fashionable audiences in London." In 1865 Simpson published Carl Maria von Weber: The Life of an Artist, a two-volume translation of the 1864 memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
of the composer by his son, Baron Max Maria von Weber. In 1868 Simpson was elected secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of the Dramatic Authors' Society, which had been founded in 1833. In The profession of the Playwright: British Theatre 1800-1900 (1992). Simpson's output was less prolific in the 1870s, perhaps as a consequence of his duties with the Dramatic Authors' Society, and he turned increasingly to adaptation and collaborations. In 1873 Simpson joined the young dramatist Herman Merivale
Herman Merivale
Herman Merivale CB was an English civil servant and historian. He was the elder brother of Charles Merivale, and father of the poet Herman Charles Merivale....
to write Alone, which premiered at the Royal Court Theatre
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre is a non-commercial theatre on Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is noted for its contributions to modern theatre...
on 25 October. Simpson used Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
's novel Bleak House (1853) as the basis for Lady Dedlock's Secret, which premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
on 3 April 1874 and appeared in Liverpool the same year but did not play in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
until it opened at the Opera Comique
Opera Comique
The Opera Comique was a 19th-century theatre constructed in Westminster, London, between Wych Street and Holywell Street with entrances on the East Strand. It opened in 1870 and was demolished in 1902, to make way for the construction of the Aldwych and Kingsway...
on 26 March 1884. He collaborated with Merivale
Merivale
Merivale is a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, north of the city centre. Its boundaries are defined by Statistics New Zealand as being Heaton Street to the north, Papanui Road to the east, Harper and Bealey Avenues to the south and Rossall Sreet to the west, although Real Estate advertising...
on an adaptation of Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities (1859) titled All for Her, which opened at the Mirror Theatre on 18 October 1875 and was revived into the 1890s. He also collaborated with Claude Templar on The Scar on the Wrist, which premiered at the St. James's on 9 March 1878, and on Zillah, which opened at the Lyceum
Lyceum
The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies between countries; usually it is a type of secondary school.-History:...
on August 1879. In 1888 Coleman
Coleman
Coleman is a surname of both English and Gaelic origin, being found in both Great Britain and Ireland. In England, it is a trade name from Old English col, coal, and mann, man and in Ireland it comes from the personal name Colmán....
reflected that "the only work of Palgrave Simpson's which still holds the stage is Scrap of Paper.