Thomas Hull (1728–1808) was an English actor and dramatist.

Early life

Born in 1728 in Strand, London, where his father practised as an

apothecary ''Apothecary'' () is a mostly archaic term for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses '' materia medica'' (medicine) to physicians, surgeons, and patients. The modern chemist (British English) or pharmacist (British and North Amer ...

, he was educated at Charterhouse School, with a view to a career in the church. He made an unsuccessful attempt to follow his father's profession.

Stage career

According to ''Biographia Dramatica'', Hull first appeared at the

Smock Alley Theatre Since the 17th century, there have been numerous theatres in Dublin with the name Smock Alley. The current Smock Alley Theatre () is a 21st-century theatre in Dublin, converted from a 19th-century church building, incorporating structural mat ...

in Dublin; and then moved on to Bath, Somerset, where he managed the theatre for

John Palmer John Palmer may refer to: People Politicians * John Palmer (fl. 1377–1394), English politician * Sir John Palmer, 5th Baronet (1735–1817), British politician * John Palmer (1785–1840), U.S. congressman from New York * John Palmer (1842–19 ...

. His first recorded appearance was, however, at Covent Garden Theatre, 5 October 1759, as Elder Wou'dbe in George Farquhar's ''Twin Rivals''. At Covent Garden Hull stayed without a break, apparently, till the end of his career, a period of forty-eight years. He was the original Harpagus in

John Hoole John Hoole (December 1727 – 2 August 1803) was an English translator, the son of Samuel Hoole (born 1692), a mechanic, and Sarah Drury (c. 1700 – c. 1793), the daughter of a Clerkenwell clockmaker. He became a personal friend of Samuel Johnso ...

's ''Cyrus'' (3 December 1768), Edwin in

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's ''Elfrida'' (21 November 1772), Pizarro in Arthur Murphy's ''Alzuma'' (23 February 1773), Mador in Mason's ''Caractacus'' (6 December 1776), Sir Hubert in

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's ''Percy'' (10 December 1777), and Mr. Shandy in

Leonard McNally Leonard Patrick McNally (1752–1820) was an Irish barrister, playwright, lyricist, founding member of the United Irishmen and spy for the British Government within Irish republican circles. He was a successful lawyer in late 18th and early 19th ...

's ''Tristram Shandy'' (26 April 1783). From 1775 to 1782 Hull managed Covent Garden for George Colman. It was his pride that during his long connection with Covent Garden he only missed playing his part once, when he was confined to his bed by a fever. The plays attributed to him, with one or two exceptions which are noted, were acted at Covent Garden.

Death

Hull's name appeared for the last time on the bills on 28 December 1807, when he played the Uncle in ''George Barnwell''. He died on 22 April 1808 at his house, near Dean's Yard, Westminster, and was buried in the churchyard of St. Margaret's, Westminster. His sister, Anna Maria, married John Awsiter. Their daughter, Jane Elizabeth Awister, died in 1837/38, and had expressed the wish to be buried with her uncle, Thomas Hull, in St Margaret's Westminter will of Jane Elizabeth Awsiter; PROB 11/1890/123 Hull played a role in establishing the Theatrical Fund, taking the initiative over the distresses of Mrs. Hamilton, and calling the actors together. He married Miss Morrison, an actress.

Works

Hull's plays were: * ''The Twins'', an adaptation of the ''

Comedy of Errors ''The Comedy of Errors'' is one of William Shakespeare's early plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play. ...

'', 24 April 1762; not printed, but once acted, and possibly assigned to Hull in error. * ''The Absent Man'', a farce, 28 April 1764; not printed. * ''Pharnaces'', an opera adapted from the Italian, acted at Drury Lane probably in 1765. * ''Spanish Lady'', musical entertainment, 1765, acted 2 May 1765, and again with alterations 11 December 1769. * ''All in the Right'', a farce, from the French of

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, 26 April 1766; not printed. * ''The Fairy Favour'', 1766, a

masque The masque was a form of festive courtly entertainment that flourished in 16th- and early 17th-century Europe, though it was developed earlier in Italy, in forms including the intermedio (a public version of the masque was the pageant). A masq ...

written for the entertainment of the

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, acted at Covent Garden about 1767. * '' The Perplexities'', 1767, 31 January 1767, an adaptation of Samuel Tuke's ''Adventures of Five Hours'', in which Hull played Don Juan. * ''The Royal Merchant'', 14 December 1767, an opera based on

Beaumont and Fletcher Beaumont and Fletcher were the English dramatists Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, who collaborated in their writing during the reign of James I (1603–25). They became known as a team early in their association, so much so that their joi ...

's ''Beggar's Bush''. * ''The Prodigal Son'', an oratorio, 1773, set to music by Dr. Thomas Arnold, and performed at the installation of

Lord North Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford (13 April 17325 August 1792), better known by his courtesy title Lord North, which he used from 1752 to 1790, was 12th Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782. He led Great Britain through most o ...

chancellor of the University of Oxford This is a list of chancellors of the University of Oxford in England by year of appointment. __TOC__ Chronological list See also * List of vice-chancellors of the University of Oxford *List of University of Oxford people * List of chancell ...

. * ''Henry the Second, or the Fall of Rosamond'', a tragedy in five acts and in verse, 1774, acted 1 May 1773, with Hull as Clifford, Mrs. Hull as Queen Eleanor, and Mrs. Hartley as Rosamond; it was more than once revived. Four editions of this appeared in 1774; an edition was issued in York in 1775, and the play is included in the collections of

Bell A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an inte ...

and

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. * '' Edward and Eleonora'', a tragedy, 1775, slightly altered from Thomson, 18 March 1775. * ''Love finds the Way'', a comic opera, not printed, based on the ''School for Guardians'', 18 November 1777. * ''Iphigenia, or the Victim'', not printed, 23 March 1778, a tragedy slightly altered from a translation by Boyer of

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. Hull played Agamemnon. * ''The Fatal Interview'', a tragedy, not printed, Drury Lane, 16 November 1782. Mrs. Siddons played the heroine, but the piece failed. * ''True British Tar, or found at a Pinch'', a one-act musical entertainment, played in 1786 at Hull, and not printed. * ''Timon of Athens'', adapted from Shakespeare and

Thomas Shadwell Thomas Shadwell ( – 19 November 1692) was an English poet and playwright who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1689. Life Shadwell was born at either Bromehill Farm, Weeting-with-Broomhill or Santon House, Lynford, Norfolk, and educated at B ...

(not printed), 13 May 1786. Hull played Flavius. * ''The Comedy of Errors'', 1793, 3 June 1793, slightly altered from Shakespeare. Hull was Ægeon. * ''Disinterested Love'', 30 May 1798, an unprinted alteration from

Philip Massinger Philip Massinger (1583 – 17 March 1640) was an English dramatist. His finely plotted plays, including '' A New Way to Pay Old Debts'', ''The City Madam'', and ''The Roman Actor'', are noted for their satire and realism, and their polit ...

, in which Hull played Octavio. * ''Elisha, or the Woman of Shunem'', an oratorio, 1801, presumably not given at Covent Garden. After the custom of the day, just the airs, duets, etc. of the musical pieces were printed. Hull also wrote: * ''The History of Sir William Harrington'', a novel, 4 vols. 1771; reprinted 1797; translated into German, Leipzig, 1771, and French, Lausanne, 1773. * ''Richard Plantagenet, a Legendary Tale'', 1774. * ''Select Letters between the late Duchess of Somerset, Lady Luxborough, and others, including a Sketch of the Manners, &c., of the Republic of Venice'', 2 vols. London, 1778. * ''Moral Tales in Verse'', 2 vols., London, 1797. * ''A Collection of Poems and Translations in English and Latin'', Bath, 1780 (?). Hull also enjoyed the friendship of

William Shenstone William Shenstone (18 November 171411 February 1763) was an English poet and one of the earliest practitioners of landscape gardening through the development of his estate, '' The Leasowes''. Biography Son of Thomas Shenstone and Anne Penn, ...

, some of whose letters he published. His name also appears on ''Genuine Letters from a Gentlewoman to a young Lady, her Pupil''. Now first revised and published by T. Hull, 1772, 2 vols.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Hull, Thomas 1728 births 1808 deaths People from the City of Westminster People educated at Charterhouse School English male stage actors English dramatists and playwrights 18th-century English male actors English male dramatists and playwrights