Background
Simpson was born in 1784, in England.
Simpson was born in 1784, in England.
Although educated for a mercantile life, Simpson had, as he phrased it, "a soul above buttons, " so he ran away, and took to the stage.
Simpson made his bow in May 1806, with a barn-storming troupe in the village of Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, appearing as the Baron in August F. F. von Kotzebue's then famous play, The Stranger. He soon shifted his allegiance to a company at Buckingham, where, he wrote, "we had the pleasure of playing in a larger stable. "
Subsequently he acted at Dover, Margate, and Brighton, and then undertook an engagement at Dublin, whence he was brought to the United States by Thomas Abthorpe Cooper and Stephen Price, managers of the Park Theatre, New York. His American début occurred at that house on October 25, 1809. On this occasion, as Harry Dornton in The Road to Ruin by Thomas Holcroft, and later in such roles as Jack Absolute in The Rivals and Joseph Surface in The School for Scandal he gave convincing evidence of distinct gifts for high comedy. He was at once warmly received by the playgoers and praised by the critics.
That he displayed ability also in other departments of the theatre is seen in his appointment as "acting manager" by 1812, and some half dozen years later he replaced Cooper as Price's partner. Because of the latter's frequent absences abroad much of the burden of management fell upon Simpson, but, despite a disastrous fire at the Park on May 24, 1820, and increasing competition, he kept the theatre in a prosperous state for several years. The popularity of the house was greatly enhanced by the many celebrities of the British stage brought over by the partners for brief starring visits, and by the introduction of Italian opera to New York in 1825 through the engagement of the admirable Garcia company.
Perhaps because of permanent lameness, resulting from a serious stage accident in December 1827, and because of his waning popularity as a player, Simpson practically withdrew from acting about 1833 and confined himself largely to his duties as director. As a of the panic of 1837 and of the enterprise of young and progressive competitors, the fortunes of the Park and its managers declined so much that when Simpson became sole lessee of the theatre upon the death of Price in 1840 he found himself master of a tottering house. For some years he struggled on doggedly and not always hopelessly, thanks to the efforts of a good company. But it was a losing battle. His methods were outmoded, the building was in an advanced state of dilapidation because of the proprietors' niggardliness, and the public had formed the habit of going elsewhere. On June 5, 1848, the ruined manager surrendered, forfeiting his interests to Thomas Sowerby Hamblin of the Bowery Theatre for a small annuity. Less than two months later he died - of a broken heart, his contemporaries believed.
For his family relief a highly profitable benefit was held at the Park on December 7, in which many leading actors of the day participated. This was followed by five other dramatic benefits in the city, indisputable testimony to the high esteem.
Critics pronounced Simpson as "easy, natural, and graceful, " with a "modulant and sonorous" voice.
Simpson left a widow - the former actress Julia Elizabeth Jones, whom he married March 9, 1820 - and several children, one of them Edward Simpson.