Background
John Henry was born in 1746 in Dublin, Ireland.
John Henry was born in 1746 in Dublin, Ireland.
John Henry made his début as actor in 1762 at Drury Lane, London. It has been stated that he came out under the patronage of Thomas Sheridan, the father of Richard Brinsley Sheridan, but that he did not succeed. Leaving England, he played for a time in Jamaica, West Indies, and then made his American début at the Southwark Theatre, Philadelphia, October 6, 1767. When war with England impended and colonial theatres were closed by recommendation of Congress, the American Company of Comedians early in 1775 departed for Jamaica, where it remained until peace was restored. For the season of 1779-1780 Henry was engaged at Drury Lane, acting Othello among other roles.
In 1782 Henry was again in America looking after the property of the company and giving lectures and readings in New York. About this time he adapted The School for Soldiers; or, The Deserter, a version of a French play, for the Old American Company, as it was now called. Leading his actors back to these shores in 1785, he almost immediately united forces with Lewis Hallam, who for some months had been managing a feeble troupe in this country. During their partnership Hallam and Henry were often at violent odds, being rival actors and quarrelsome by nature, but for the next seven years they had a monopoly of the American theatre from New York to Annapolis.
In 1791, however, the comedian Thomas Wignell, after disagreements with Henry, resigned from the organization and set about forming a company of his own. Thus threatened, Henry sailed for England in 1792 to obtain reenforcements and brought back some able actors, chief among them being John Hodgkinson. This amazing person, as unscrupulous as he was gifted and ambitious, at once set about robbing Henry of the roles he had long played, and in this Procedure the newcomer had the connivance of the crafty Hallam, who was glad to see his partner undone. Henry resisted for a time, but his spirit was soon broken, and in 1794 he sold his half the property for $10, 000 to Hallam, who promptly resold it to Hodgkinson. Henry’s death from rapid consumption, perhaps aggravated by distress of mind, followed shortly upon this transaction.
Henry was recognized as one of the handsomest actors ever seen in the Colonies and one of the most capable.
John Henry was married to Jane Storer and, after her death, to her sister, a popular actress, Maria Storer.