Henry Guy Carleton

Background

Henry Guy Carleton was born on June 21, 1856 at Fort Union, New Mexico, United States. His father was James Henry Carleton, a general, and his mother Sophie Garland Wolfe.

Education

Henry studied civil and mining engineering at Santa Clara College, San Francisco, 1865-70.

Career

From 1873 to 1876 Carleton was a cavalry officer in the army. In 1876 he came to New Orleans to write for the Times, of that city, and he also opened newspaper connections in Chicago and New York. He remained enough of a soldier to become an officer of militia and to take part in the riots of 1877 incident to the final suppression of the reconstruction government in Louisiana. In 1881, he wrote a blank verse tragedy, Memnon, its scene laid in ancient Egypt. From the age of fifteen when he wrote a play called The Age of Gold, he had been intensely interested in the drama, and in 1882, encouraged by Memnon, he went to New York in order to be near the theatres. Play followed play rapidly, the number mounting at last to more than sixteen. Whether because he confined himself largely to themes of gloom, or for other reasons, this work was not often the means of his acquiring money. He moved to Boston, and was living there, ill and in something like poverty, when in 1892, at the suggestion of Nat Goodwin, he wrote The Gilded Fool. This play, a tragi-comedy of the conventional type, served Goodwin admirably for a long time. Two years later, appeared Butterflies, through which John Drew and Maude Adams first attained wide popularity. In spite of these and other successes and of frequent work for the magazines and newspapers, Carleton's finances were usually at low ebb. He endeavored to relieve this condition by turning to account some of his early training as an engineer, and from 1899 to 1903 he invented and patented thirty-four electrical and chemical devices. None of these proved very remunerative. He was delightful company. When prosperous, he joined yacht clubs and gave himself to a consideration of his colonial ancestry in both Virginia and Massachusetts, but even when not prosperous he retained his inveterate humor and his disposition to tease every one with whom he had contact. Once when congratulated on his military medals, he explained that he had to thank for them the fact that he had always been a grievous stammerer. As a young man he was in charge of some troops who were surprised by hostile Indians. He was terrified, but the proper order of retreat could not be coaxed to his lips. The consequence was rout for the Indians, and medals for the routers. Such raillery characterized him even in the long period of ill health which preceded his death. He died in Atlantic City, N. J.

Achievements

• In 1892, at the suggestion of Nat Goodwin, he wrote The Gilded Fool. This play, a tragi-comedy of the conventional type, served Goodwin admirably for a long time. Two years later, appeared Butterflies, through which John Drew and Maude Adams first attained wide popularity.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The butterflies, a comedy in three acts

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • The Thompson Street Poker Club

    (The Thompson Street Poker Club is an unchanged, high-qual...)

  • The United a Comedy in of the Works of the (Classic Reprint)

    (The United a Comedy in of the Works of the was written by...)

  • Advice to Young Anglers (Classic Reprint)

    (Excerpt from Advice to Young Anglers 195 Regular Beach R...)

  • Memnon: A Tragedy in Five Acts...

    (This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)

Connections

Father:

James Henry Carleton

Military officer

Mother:

Sophie Garland Wolfe