Mossop, Henry

1729?

1774

Henry Mossop was probably born in Dublin in 1729, the son of Reverend John Mossop of Trinity College. Henry was given a proper education and entered Trinity College with the intention of becoming a clergyman, but he came to London and turned to the stage, despite being refused by both Garrick at Drury Lane and Rich at Covent Garden. With almost everything against him, he returned to Dublin and found work with Thomas Sheridan at Smock Alley Theatre, where he appeared as Zanga in “The Revenge” on 30 November 1749. Benjamin Victor served him a death blow: ‘a wild awkward youth, that had never taken the business and propriety of acting in consideration.’ Mossop modelled himself after James Quin but copied Quin’s ‘faults instead of the beauties.’ That did not stop Mossop, for he went on to act Cassius in “Julius Caesar”, Gloster in “Jane Shore”, Othello, King John, Macbeth and other important characters, determined (and apparently encouraged by Sheridan) to overcome his shortcomings and find success in the theatre. Critical comments remained mixed for years: ‘no carriage; his action wild, ranting irregular’ (Lord Orrery), ‘the most melodious clear voice I ever heard’ (Tate Wilkinson), ‘playing which appears natural, because it is divested of all pomp and ceremony’ (John Hill), ‘a sameness in most of the characters he acts’ (“Theatrical Review”, 1757) and ‘as wretched a performer as ever graced the stage’ (Edward Purdom). But he doggedly worked his way up, at Drury Lane, then at Dublin again, Drury Lane again, and Dublin once more (as manager). After all that experience he was classed by Thomas Davies as (after Garrick and Spranger Barry) ‘the most valuable actor on the stage.’ He was hard-working, careful in his attention to the minute details of his profession, and, indeed, very good when playing the fiery characters most suited to him. But he had too much going against him from the start, and all his effort did not take him to the top of his profession. He gambled too much, and his health deteriorated by 1771. In 1772 he was bankrupt, and the patent theatres in London had no place for him. He died on 27 December 1774, almost penniless. (BDA) [EAL]