Emery, John

1777

1822

The comedian John Emery was born in Sunderland, near Durham, on 22 December 1777, the son of the actors Mackle Emery (d. 1825) and his wife (d. 1827). As a youngster John played the violin in the orchestra at the Brighton Theatre and led the band at Plymouth. Though he seemed destined to be a musician, he decided for the stage, appearing in 1792 at Brighton as Old Crazy in the farce “Peeping Tom”. After some touring and three years in the York company, he received an engagement at Covent Garden, where he made his debut as Frank Oatland in “A Cure for the Heartache” and acquitted himself well. He became an important acquisition, especially in roles of rustic simplicity, and in his first season he offered a large number of characters. He was described as a ‘young but very promising performer.’ In his second season at Covent Garden he was especially good as Gibbet in “The Beaux’ Stratagem”. In the summer of 1800 he made his first appearance at the Haymarket Theatre on 13 June as Zekiel Homespun in “The Heir at Law”. Emery remained at Covent Garden during the winter seasons through 1821-22, creating a number of original roles, Dan in “John Bull” (G0193), Tyke in “School of Reform” (G0196) and Dandy Dinmont in “Guy Mannering” among them. He first acted Farmer Ashfield in “Speed the Plough” (G0194) at the Haymarket in the summer of 1801. After the 1821-22 season at Covent Garden, Emery engaged at the English Opera House for the summer. His last performance was as Giles in “The Miller’s Maid” on 3 July 1822. He became ill and died of pneumonia on 25 July at his home in Hyde Street, Bloomsbury, and was buried in St Andrew, Holborn, on 1 August. He left his widow Ann (née Thompson) and seven children. Several benefits for his family were subscribed to by his admirers and former colleagues. Emery had kept up his interest in field sports – especially boxing – and pubs. In addition to being an accomplished musician, he was a talented artist who exhibited some 19 pictures at the Royal Academy, of which he was an honorary member. Hazlitt acclaimed his acting: ‘It is impossible to praise it sufficiently because there is never any opportunity of finding fault with it.’ The press called him ‘one of the most real, hearty, and fervid of actors.’ The BDA (5: 89-90) lists 26 pictures of him, including the nine in the Garrick Club. (BDA)