John Emery (English actor) facts for kids

John Emery (1777–1822) was a famous English actor. He was born in Sunderland on September 22, 1777. He grew up in Ecclesfield, West Riding of Yorkshire, where he received his early education. Both of his parents were actors. His father, Mackle Emery, was a country actor. His mother, Mrs. Emery, also performed in plays, including at the Haymarket Theatre and Covent Garden Theatre.

From Music to the Stage

John Emery first trained to be a musician. When he was just twelve years old, he played in the orchestra at the Brighton Theatre. It was there that he made his first appearance on stage as Old Crazy in a play called Peeping Tom.

Another actor, John Bernard, said that in the early 1790s, John Emery often played the fiddle in the orchestra. He also took on small acting roles. Bernard helped Emery get more involved in acting. Emery later performed in Yorkshire with Tate Wilkinson, who believed he would be very successful.

In 1798, Emery joined the cast at Covent Garden Theatre. His first big role there was Frank Oatland in A Cure for the Heart Ache.

Early Acting Success

After his debut at Covent Garden, Emery played many different characters. These included Lovegold in Miser and Abel Drugger in Tobacconist. On June 13, 1800, he first appeared at the Haymarket Theatre. He played Zekiel Homespun in The Heir at Law. This type of country character became his specialty.

On February 11, 1801, at Covent Garden, he created the role of Stephen Harrowby in The Poor Gentleman.

Notable Roles and Performances

In 1801, Emery continued to perform at the Haymarket. He played Clod in Young Quaker and Farmer Ashfield in Speed the Plough. He stayed at Covent Garden Theatre for the rest of his career. However, he did perform once at the English Opera House in 1821. There he played Giles in Miller's Maid.

Creating Famous Characters

Emery was known for creating many original roles in popular plays. He was the first to play Dan in John Bull in 1803. He also originated the role of Tyke in School of Reform in 1805. Other famous roles he created include Ralph Hempseed in X Y Z (1810).

He also brought characters from popular novels to life on stage. He played Dandie Dinmont in Guy Mannering (1816). He was also Ratcliff in Heart of Midlothian (1819). Both of these plays were based on novels by his friend, Sir Walter Scott.

His very last performance was as Edie Ochiltree in The Antiquary on June 29, 1822. This play was also based on a Scott novel.

Emery's Legacy

John Emery passed away on July 25, 1822, due to lung inflammation. He was buried on August 1. After his death, a special event was held at Covent Garden Theatre. It included plays and a concert. This event helped raise money for his parents, his wife, and his seven children.

Many artists painted portraits of John Emery in his various roles. Several of these paintings are now part of the Mathews collection at the Garrick Club.

His Acting Style

Emery was especially famous for his role as Tyke. Many critics believed no one could play this character as well as he did. He was also excellent in some of Shakespeare's plays. For example, his performance as Barnardine in Measure for Measure was highly praised. His Caliban and Silence in King Henry IV were also considered outstanding.

Other memorable performances included Ralph in Maid of the Mill and Dougal in Rob Roy. Critics often described his acting as "real, hearty, and fervent." They said he brought a unique and powerful feeling to his characters. One writer compared his acting to "a bottle of old port," saying it had "a fine rough and mellow flavour."

John Emery was about five feet nine inches tall and had a strong build. He had light hair and light blue eyes. He looked much like the farmer characters he often played. He was also a good singer with a low tenor voice. He even wrote some songs himself.

Besides acting, Emery was also a talented painter. He showed nineteen of his paintings, mostly sea scenes, at the Royal Academy between 1801 and 1817. He was known for being a good observer and an entertaining friend. He enjoyed sports, especially driving four-in-hand carriages.