Augustus Harris(1852-1896)
- Writer
Augustus Henry Glossop Harris was an English playwright, theatrical
impresario and actor who was knighted for his services to the theater.
He was born on March 18, 1852 in Paris to the dramatist Augustus
Glossop Harris and his wife Maria, a wardrobe designer. Augustus Henry
was raised in London until returning to Paris at the age 12 to get his
education.
He took over management of London's Drury Lane Theatre in 1879 and won the sobriquet "Father of Modern Pantomime". His first play, "The World" (co-written with Paul John Meritt and Henry Pettitt) was put on at the Drury Lane in 1880. He co-wrote many more plays with both Meritt and Pettitt singularly, never again as a trio; he also collaborated with Henry Hamilton multiple times and had other co-writers. Harris & Hamilton's 1889 play The Royal Oak (1923) was made into a movie in 1923, while their The Derby Winner (1915), which was co-written with Cecil Raleigh, 1895, was adapted for the screen in both 1915 and 1923
Harris's involvement in politics led to him becoming a member of the London County Council in 1890 and being appointed a sheriff in 1891. He also was a deputy lieutenant of the city of London. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1891.
Augustus Harris died at Folkestone, England on June 22, 1896 at the age of 44. He was buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.
He took over management of London's Drury Lane Theatre in 1879 and won the sobriquet "Father of Modern Pantomime". His first play, "The World" (co-written with Paul John Meritt and Henry Pettitt) was put on at the Drury Lane in 1880. He co-wrote many more plays with both Meritt and Pettitt singularly, never again as a trio; he also collaborated with Henry Hamilton multiple times and had other co-writers. Harris & Hamilton's 1889 play The Royal Oak (1923) was made into a movie in 1923, while their The Derby Winner (1915), which was co-written with Cecil Raleigh, 1895, was adapted for the screen in both 1915 and 1923
Harris's involvement in politics led to him becoming a member of the London County Council in 1890 and being appointed a sheriff in 1891. He also was a deputy lieutenant of the city of London. He was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1891.
Augustus Harris died at Folkestone, England on June 22, 1896 at the age of 44. He was buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.
