John Till Allingham ( – 28 February 1812)John Till Allingham in the ''England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1970'' was an English dramatist.

Life

Allingham was the son of a wine merchant in the City of London. He was brought up to the profession of the law, but is known as a successful and prolific dramatist. Allingham died aged 36, at his father's house in

Islington Islington () is a district in the north of Greater London, England, and part of the London Borough of Islington. It is a mainly residential district of Inner London, extending from Islington's High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the ar ...

, and was buried in March 1812 at

Bunhill Fields Bunhill Fields is a former burial ground in central London, in the London Borough of Islington, just north of the City of London. What remains is about in extent and the bulk of the site is a public garden maintained by the City of London Cor ...

. In his ''Life of John Kemble'' (1825),

James Boaden James Boaden (23 May 1762 – 16 February 1839) was an English biographer, dramatist, and journalist. Biographer He was the son of William Boaden, a merchant in the Russia trade. He was born at Whitehaven, Cumberland, on 23 May 1762, and at ...

suggested his early death was caused by drinking.

Works

Allingham's afterpiece, '' Fortune's Frolic'', first produced at

Covent Garden Theatre The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal Op ...

in 1799, long enjoyed popularity, and the leading character Robin Roughhead wasplayed by celebrated actors. His second play, '' Tis all a Farce'', was produced at the

Haymarket Theatre The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre on Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foote ...

in 1800. Others of his works were: the '' Marriage Promise'', a comedy with music by Michael Kelly, produced at

Drury Lane Theatre The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Drur ...

1803; ''Mrs. Wiggins'', a farce in two acts, produced at the Haymarket in 1803; ''Hearts of Oak'', a comedy, produced at Drury Lane in 1803; ''The Weathercock'', a farce, produced at Drury Lane in 1805; the ''Romantic Lover'', a comedy, produced at Covent Garden in 1806, and "damned", wrote

John Genest John Genest (1764–1839) was an English clergyman and theatre historian. Life He was the son of John Genest of Dunker's Hill, Devon. He was educated at Westminster School, entered 9 May 1780 as a pensioner at Trinity College, Cambridge, and gra ...

. Plays attributed to Allingham include: ''Who wins? or the Widow's Choice'', a musical farce, produced at Covent Garden in 1808; ''Independence, or the Trustee'', produced at Covent Garden in 1809; ''Transformation, or Love and Law'', a musical farce, produced by the Drury Lane company at the Lyceum Theatre in 1810. Much of the success of Allingham's plays was due to the ability and popularity of

Charles Mathews Charles Mathews (28 June 1776, London – 28 June 1835, Devonport) was an English theatre manager and comic actor, well known during his time for his gift of impersonation and skill at table entertainment. His play ''At Home'', in which he pla ...

George Henry Harlow George Henry Harlow (10 June 1787 – 4 February 1819) was an English painter known mostly for his portraits. Life Harlow was born in St. James's Street, London, the posthumous son of a China merchant, who after some years' residence in ...

painted a portrait of the actor as Mr. Wiggins in the farce of ''Mrs. Wiggins''.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Allingham, John Till 18th-century English people 19th-century English people English dramatists and playwrights Writers from London 1770s births 1812 deaths Date of birth unknown English male dramatists and playwrights Burials at Bunhill Fields