John Collins (poet) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Collins
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| Born | 1742 |
| Died | 2 May 1808 (aged 65–66) |
John Collins (born 1742 – died May 2, 1808) was an English entertainer and poet. He was known for his lively performances and humorous songs.
Contents
John Collins's Early Life and Career
John Collins was born in Bath. His father might have been a tailor. John first trained to be a staymaker, which is someone who makes corsets. However, this job didn't suit him. He soon started acting on stage in Bath. He played many different kinds of characters, from serious roles to funny ones.
Acting in Ireland and London
In October 1764, John Collins performed in Dublin, Ireland. He was a good addition to the Irish stage. He often played different roles there, but he was especially good in comic operas.
Later, he performed at the Covent Garden Theatre in London. However, a bad cold stopped him from becoming very successful there. This led him to leave the London stage and perform in other parts of the country.
"The Evening Brush" Entertainment
After some time, John Collins returned to London. He created a very fun show called "The Brush." This show was a mix of interesting old theater stories and funny songs that he wrote himself. The name of his show changed over time. Sometimes it was called "The Elements of Modern Oratory" or "The Evening Brush." But the show itself always stayed the same: a blend of stories, songs, and thoughtful ideas.
In the winter of 1791-1792, Collins performed his show at the Lyceum Theatre in London for 52 nights. This showed how popular he was! After this success, he stopped performing in London.
Life in Birmingham
By January 1793, John Collins was entertaining audiences in Birmingham with his recitations. He settled down in Birmingham and lived in a house on Great Brook Street. His performances helped him earn a good living. He even bought a share in a newspaper called The Birmingham Chronicle.
Many of John Collins's poems were inspired by local events. He often published them in his newspaper. While he lived in Birmingham, his niece, Miss Brent, lived with him.
John Collins became very ill in the spring of 1808. He passed away suddenly in Birmingham on May 2, 1808. He was 65 years old.
John Collins's Works and Poems
John Collins wrote many poems. Some of his most famous ones are 'To-morrow,' 'The Golden Days of good Queen Bess,' and 'Ben Block.' These poems were very good for their time. People especially loved how he sang his songs. They said his musical expression was "rare perfection."
In 1804, a book of his poems was printed in Birmingham. It had a funny title: 'Scripscrapologia, or Collins's doggerel dish of all sorts.' The book included a picture of John Collins.
He also had his name on other works, like a version of 'Lecture on Heads' and a collection called 'The Theatrical Banquet.'
John Collins's Family
John Collins's wife was known for her beauty. She used to paint portraits of people's faces from the side, called profiles. Sadly, she became very ill and passed away. They did not have any children.
