Joseph Vernon facts for kids
Joseph Vernon (c. 1738–1782) was an English actor and singer. From his days as a boy soprano, he had a successful career on the London stage, interrupted only by the aftermath of an underage wedding to a colleague.
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Early life
Born at Coventry around 1738, Vernon was illegitimate. He studied in London under William Savage in the choir of St Paul's Cathedral. As a boy he had a fine soprano voice, and on 23 February 1751 he sang at Drury Lane Theatre in Thomas Arne's Alfred. On 22 May he took part in Queen Mab, the pantomime by Henry Woodward; on 20 September in the funeral procession in Romeo and Juliet; and on 19 November in The Shepherd's Lottery, an opera by William Boyce. In the early part of 1754 he sang tenor parts and acted comedy at Drury Lane.
Return to Drury Lane
Back at Drury Lane in 1762, Vernon was given parts by David Garrick. He combined polished singing and a natural style of acting in Shakespeare. He was also assigned some characters in comedy and farce: Colonel Bully in The Provoked Wife; Master Stephen in Every Man in his Humour; Sir John Loverule in The Devil to Pay, a ballad opera by Charles Coffey, and Sharp in The Lying Valet by Garrick. According to James Boaden, Vernon's voice in maturity was of poor quality. Nonetheless, he continued to take singing parts in opera and interludes. The song in Act III of The School for Scandal was written by Thomas Linley for him. He took the title role in Selima and Azor, Linley's first opera.
Last years
Vernon's last performances were Artabanes in Artaxerxes, First Bacchanal in Comus, and Truemore in The Lord of the Manor by Jackson of Exeter, 1780. Until 6 October 1781 he appeared in these and his older parts. He died on 19 March 1782 at Lambeth, and the administration of his effects was granted to Margaret Vernon, his widow.
Works
Vernon compiled around 1782 The New London and Country Songster, or a Banquet of Vocal Music. He composed songs and ballads, including New Songs in the Pantomime of the Witches, the epilogue in Twelfth Night, and a song in the Two Gentlemen of Verona.
