Collection GB 0074 O/054 - HARLEY, John (1786-1858)

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 O/054

Title

HARLEY, John (1786-1858)

Date(s)

  • 1858 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

0.01 linear metres.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

John Pritt Harley was born in 1786, son of a London draper and silk mercer. He was apprenticed to a linen draper but began to appear in amateur theatricals. By 1806 the acting was taking precedence over other employment, and he became known as "Fat Jack" - he was very thin - and was famed for his comic singing. His first London appearance was in 1815 at the English Opera House. He had a countertenor voice and played the comic hero in many operas. He remained at Dury Lane until 1835, when he went to the St James's Theatre; but by 1838 he had returned to the Drury Lane company. In 1850 he joined Charles Kean at the Princess's Theatre. In August 1858 he was seized with paralysis on coming off stage, and died died at home two days later. He was buried at Kensal Green cemetery.

Information from: G. C. Boase, ' Harley, John Pritt (1786-1858)', rev. Katharine Cockin, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.

Archival history

GB 0074 O/054 1858 Collection 0.01 linear metres. Harley , John Pritt , 1786-1858 , actor

John Pritt Harley was born in 1786, son of a London draper and silk mercer. He was apprenticed to a linen draper but began to appear in amateur theatricals. By 1806 the acting was taking precedence over other employment, and he became known as "Fat Jack" - he was very thin - and was famed for his comic singing. His first London appearance was in 1815 at the English Opera House. He had a countertenor voice and played the comic hero in many operas. He remained at Dury Lane until 1835, when he went to the St James's Theatre; but by 1838 he had returned to the Drury Lane company. In 1850 he joined Charles Kean at the Princess's Theatre. In August 1858 he was seized with paralysis on coming off stage, and died died at home two days later. He was buried at Kensal Green cemetery.

Information from: G. C. Boase, ' Harley, John Pritt (1786-1858)', rev. Katharine Cockin, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004.

Record deposited in May 1961.

Diary of actor John Pritt Harley, 1858.

One volume.

Available for general access.

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Records prepared May to September 2011. Primary documents Personal papers Archives Personal archives Artists Performers Actors Performing arts Theatre Documents Information sources Diaries Nonfiction Harley , John Pritt , 1786-1858 , actor Prose Literary forms and genres Literature

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Record deposited in May 1961.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Diary of actor John Pritt Harley, 1858.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

One volume.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Available for general access.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area