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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.