George Holland was an English American stage actor, born in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

, December 6, 1791. His father was a tradesman. The boy was first sent to preparatory schools in Lambeth

Lambeth

Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...

, and afterward to a boarding-school. He did not prove a devoted student: he was more remarkable for his pranks than for his proficiency in learning. He was taken home by his father and set to work in the silk and ribbon warehouse of Messrs. Hill & Newcombe, Wood Street, Cheapside

Cheapside

Cheapside is a street in the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street. To the east is Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the major road junction above Bank tube station. To the west is St. Paul's Cathedral, St...

, London. Prior to beginning to work, though, he had a six weeks long vacation during which he had his first experience on the stage at Astley's Amphitheatre

Astley's Amphitheatre

Philip Astley opened Astley's Amphitheatre in London in 1773. * The structure was burned in 1794, then rebuilt. With increasing prosperity and rebuilding after successive fires, it grew to become Astley's Royal Amphitheatre and this was the home of the circus...

. He was delighted by the activities which he experienced. His work with the silk mercers passed six months, selling silk and ribbons and "silk" hats, the latter articles having then only just come into fashion. Other ventures passed by, and at the age of nineteen George was apprenticed to Mr. Thomas Davison, of Whitefriars, to learn the trade of printer, and in a vain pursuit of skill in that vocation he spent two years. He was a vigorous young man who was a member of a boat club: he could—and frequently did—row from London Bridge to Richmond and back again, twenty miles (32 km) each way. Young Holland's way of life unfitted him for the printing business, and when twenty-one years of age he was fortunate enough to get his indentures cancelled.

Jolly boys

He wandered to Liverpool

Liverpool

Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...

, then to Dublin in 1816 where, at the age of twenty-five he was established in business for himself, to sell bobinet lace, manufactured in Nottingham

Nottingham

Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...

. His shop was in Crow street, Dublin, near the Crow Street Theatre, and immediately opposite to a favorite haunt of jolly boys (toper

Alcoholic beverage

An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...

s) , called Peter Kearney's Inn. To that resort George frequently repaired, and there he made many theatrical acquaintances. The bobinet-lace business lasted six months, when George settled his affairs, took down his sign, and returned to England, to embark on that theatrical career which continued, through many vicissitudes of fortune, to the end of his days. George Holland was fifty-three years an actor, - more than half-a-century of entrances and exits!

Acting on stage

The first engagement that Holland secured was made with Mr. Samuel Russell, familiarly known as "Jerry Sneak Russell," the stage-manager for Robert William Elliston

Robert William Elliston

Robert William Elliston was an English actor and theatre manager.He was born in London, the son of a watchmaker. He was educated at St Paul's School, but ran away from home and made his first appearance on the stage as Tressel in Richard III at Bath in 1791...

. Following that engagement Elliston offered a second engagement at Birmingham Theatre. On May 19, 1817, the theatre opened with "Bertram" and "The Broken Sword," with him in the role of Baron in the latter play. His wig and cosmetics were not suited to the role that he was to portray and he was literally laughed and hooted from the stage. For a time after this misadventure the unlucky comedian was known as "Baron Holland;" he kept away from the stage for a while, yet after some time, Elliston reinstated him in the company, and he was made prompter. He soon became well-known amongst stage actors, and associated with the best-known actors of the time.

In the season of 1825 – 26 Holland was engaged at the London Haymarket Theatre

Haymarket Theatre

The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...

, under the management of T. P. Cooke; later he fulfilled an engagement at the Surrey Theatre

Surrey Theatre

The Surrey Theatre began life in 1782 as the Royal Circus and Equestrian Philharmonic Academy, one of the many circuses that provided contemporary London entertainment of both horsemanship and drama...

; but his English career was drawing to a close. At Christmas, 1826, Junius Brutus Booth

Junius Brutus Booth

Junius Brutus Booth was an English actor. He was the father of John Wilkes Booth , Edwin Booth , and Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., an actor and theatre manager...

, then stage-manager of the Chatham Theatre

Chatham Theatre

The Chatham Theatre or Chatham Street Theatre was a playhouse on the east side of Chatham Street in New York City. It was located between Roosevelt and James streets, a few blocks south of the Bowery. At its opening in 1839, the Chatham was a neighborhood establishment, which featured big-name...

, New York

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, sent a letter, offering him an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 engagement. In the following year he accepted an engagement at the Bowery Theatre

Bowery Theatre

The Bowery Theatre was a playhouse in the Bowery neighborhood of New York City. Although it was founded by rich families to compete with the upscale Park Theatre, the Bowery saw its most successful period under the populist, pro-American management of Thomas Hamblin in the 1830s and 1840s...

. In August, 1827, in the ship Columbia, he sailed for New York.

Stateside

The Bowery Theatre

Bowery Theatre

The Bowery Theatre was a playhouse in the Bowery neighborhood of New York City. Although it was founded by rich families to compete with the upscale Park Theatre, the Bowery saw its most successful period under the populist, pro-American management of Thomas Hamblin in the 1830s and 1840s...

, - then called the New York Theatre, - was an important institution in the dramatic world when Holland came to America, and his appearance there, on September 12, 1827, attracted much attention. He acted in "A Day After the Fair," then a favorite farce

Farce

In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...

, and he made a decided hit. It was a long time, though, before the comedian obtained a permanent position. For years after he arrived in America he led the nomadic life of his tribe. In 1829, he acted in theatres in the populous cities of the United States, such as Boston, Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...

, Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...

, Natchez

Natchez, Mississippi

Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...

, Vicksburg

Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...

, Montgomery

Montgomery, Alabama

Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...

, Mobile

Mobile, Alabama

Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...

, Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...

, Salem

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...

, and Providence

Providence, Rhode Island

Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...

. In June, 1830, the comedian occupied what was known as "Holland's Cottage" at Yorkville, New York

Yorkville, Oneida County, New York

Yorkville is a village in Oneida County, New York, USA. The population was 2,675 at the 2000 census.The Village of Yorkville is in the southeast part of the Town of Whitestown adjacent to the City of Utica.- History :...

. That was a snug suburban inn, and one which enjoyed much favor.

Always an employee

Holland, indeed, was always a popular man, and if his business capacity had kept pace with his professional success he would have gained a large fortune. That success never attended his efforts. As a worker he began, and to the last he lived in harness and ready to do his best. In 1831 – 32, along with a party of actors, he played at Augusta

Augusta, Georgia

Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...

, Savannah

Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...

, Charleston

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...

, and New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...

. Holland's portion of the entertainment was entitled "Whims of a Comedian." It was a medley and it included feats of ventriloquism

Ventriloquism

Ventriloquism, or ventriloquy, is an act of stagecraft in which a person manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppeteered "dummy"...

 for which the actor was celebrated. "The whole of this performance," said the programme, "will be recited, acted, sung, and gesticulated by Mr. Holland alone." The bill of the play contained eight distinct features, and the price of admission was one dollar, a high price in those days.

From New Orleans the party went up the Mississippi

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

 and on to Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...

. There Holland's engagement terminated. He then went to Cincinnati and to Louisville, and in association with N. M. Ludlow, gave entertainment in the principal towns of Kentucky

Kentucky

The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...

 and Tennessee

Tennessee

Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...

. In company with other actors he performed at Nashville

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

 and New Orleans. This was "the cholera

Cholera

Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...

 season of 1832," and the performances given by Holland exerted a cheering and reassuring influence over the public mind.

Holland was in New Orleans afterwards, in the post of private secretary to J. H. Caldwell and treasurer of the St. Charles Theatre. The season of 1835 – 36 began on November 30, 1835, with Charlotte Cushman

Charlotte Saunders Cushman

Charlotte Saunders Cushman was an American stage actress.-Early life:She was a descendant in the eighth generation from Pilgrim Robert Cushman.Robert Cushman brought the family name to the United States on the Mayflower as a leader and great advocate for emigration to America...

 as the star, playing Patrick, in "The Poor Soldier;" Helen Macgregor, in "Rob Roy;" Peter Wilkins, Lady Macbeth, and other parts. Holland had friendly relations with her and other theatrical luminaries. While at the St. Charles Theatre he enjoyed the most profitable time of his career. The St. Charles was destroyed by fire on March 13, 1842. Caldwell, the manager, survived his losses and was wealthy to the last, dying in New York in the autumn of 1863.

In the Olympic company of his old friend Mitchell, whom he had known since 1818 when both were members of De Camp's theatrical company, at Newcastle, he performed at New York from 1843 – 49, constantly acting and always a public favorite. He returned to New Orleans in 1849, where he enjoyed unmatched popularity. In 1855, he returned to New York, to Wallack's Theatre

James William Wallack

James William Wallack was an Anglo-American actor and manager, born in London, and brother of Henry John Wallack.Wallack's parents were comedians, who performed at the London minor playhouses and in the British provinces. His first appearance on the stage was as a child at the Surrey Theatre in...

, appearing on September 12 as Chubb in John Brougham

John Brougham

John Brougham was an Irish-American actor and dramatist.-Biography:He was born at Dublin. His father was an amateur painter, and died young. His mother was the daughter of a Huguenot, whom political adversity had forced into exile. John was the eldest of three children...

's "Game of Love." He remained connected with Wallacks, except for a brief time with Christy's Minstrels

Christy's Minstrels

Christy's Minstrels, sometimes referred to as the Christy Minstrels, were a blackface group formed by Edwin Pearce Christy, a well-known ballad singer, in 1843, in Buffalo, New York. They were instrumental in the solidification of the minstrel show into a fixed three-act form...

 in 1857, until the end of 1867 – '68. His last engagement was with Augustin Daly

Augustin Daly

John Augustin Daly was an American theatrical manager and playwright active in both the US and UK.-Biography:Daly was born in Plymouth, North Carolina and educated at Norfolk, Va...

; his last professional appearance occurred on January 12, 1870 at the Fifth Avenue Theatre

Fifth Avenue Theatre

Fifth Avenue Theatre was a Broadway theatre in New York City in the United States located at 31 West 28th Street and Broadway. It was demolished in 1939....

, as the Reporter, in Olive Logan

Olive Logan

Olive Logan was an American actress and author, daughter of Cornelius Ambrosius Logan and Eliza Akeley.She was born in Elmira, New York, and after being educated in Paris and London with a view to the stage, became an actress and subsequently a journalist and lecturer...

's farcical comedy of "Surf." His last words on stage were uttered at a benefit play ("Frou-Frou") for him on May 16 when he spoke three words: "God bless you!"

Poverty, death and remembrance

George Holland was the father of a number of children. He is sometimes called "the Elder" to distinguish him from his son. He was the father of Joseph and Edmund Milton Holland

Edmund Milton Holland

Edmund Milton Holland was an American comedian, born in New York City, the son of well-known English American stage actor George Holland. He appeared upon the stage in childhood, but his regular professional career began in 1866 at Barnum's Museum. The next year, under the name of Mr. E...

. He lived in poverty near the end of his life, and his death was expected. He died on December 20, 1870, at No. 309 Third Avenue, New York, aged 79.

His remains were not accepted at the church of the Rev. Dr. Lorenzo Sabine, who refused to allow the funeral of an actor at his church. Dr. Sabine advised the family of Holland that "there is a little church around the corner

Little Church Around the Corner

The Church of the Transfiguration, also known as the Little Church Around the Corner, is an Episcopal parish church located at 1 East 29th Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenues in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The congregation was founded in 1848 by the Rev. Dr...

 where they do that sort of thing," meaning the Church of the Transfiguration, in West Twenty-ninth Street. It indeed remains a legend of an American story. As Joseph Jefferson

Joseph Jefferson

Joseph Jefferson, commonly known as Joe Jefferson , was an American actor. He was the third actor of this name in a family of actors and managers, and one of the most famous of all American comedians....

famously known as Rip Van Winkle declared "All hail to the church around the corner." Mark Twain slammed Rev. Dr. Lorenzo Sabine in his writings.