Henry Hamilton

Henry Hamilton (c. 1854 – 4 September 1918) was an English playwright, lyricist and actor. He is best remembered for his musical theatre libretti, including The Duchess of Dantzic (1903), The School Girl (1903), Véronique (1905) and The Little Michus (1907), often adapting foreign works for the British stage. He began as an actor in 1873 but turned to writing plays in 1881 and was especially successful in the first decade of the 20th century. He was also the author of the popular song "Private Tommy Atkins" (1893). Away from his professional life, Hamilton studied theosophy. Early life and acting Hamilton was born in late 1854 or early 1855 at Nunhead, Surrey, to James Hamilton and his second wife Janette (née Ferguson) and baptised 14 March 1855 at St Mary Magdalen, Peckham, Surrey. His father is described as a gentleman, a merchant and, in his death announcement, formerly of the Hon. East Indian Civil Service. Within a year of Henry's baptism, James had died, aged 46. Hamilton's mother married Daniel Ilett in October 1865, and Hamilton was sent to Christ's Hospital for his education. As an actor, he debuted in 1873 at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh under J. B. Howard's management. Later that year he joined the touring comedy company of Wilson Barrett, and he was engaged by Craven Robertson's Caste touring company in 1874. In 1876, Hamilton formed the Pitt-Hamilton comedy drama company with Henry Mader Pitt, which toured the North of England for two years. His first appearance in London was at the Lyceum Theatre in 1878 playing Snodgrass in the Pickwickian farcical comedy Jingle, with Henry Irving, and he appeared later that year at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane for a season.