John Drew Sr.

For his son of the same name, see John Drew Jr.
John Drew
John Drew Sr. (1827-1862), [born Jonathan Henry Drewland] in Dublin, Ireland, an Irish American 19th century prominent actor / theatre manager of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, third husband of Louisa Lane Drew (Mrs. John Drew) (1820-1897), ancestor / member of famous Barrymore-Drew acting family of several generations in 18th to 21st centuries
Born
Jonathan Henry Drewland

(1827-09-03)September 3, 1827
Dublin, Ireland (former United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland)
DiedMay 21, 1862(1862-05-21) (aged 34)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Resting placeMount Vernon Cemetery (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Spouse
​
(m. 1850)​
ChildrenLouisa Drew
John Drew Jr.
Georgiana Drew

John Drew (September 3, 1827 – May 21, 1862) was an Irish-American stage actor and theatre manager.[1]: 175 

Early life

Born Jonathan Henry Drewland in Dublin, Ireland, (then in the former United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801-1922)[1]: 175  to father Thomas L. Drewland and wife / mother Louise Kanten, he was the fifth of their six children. In 1832, he journeyed and crossed the Atlantic Ocean, emigrated to the United States with his family to Boston, Massachusetts in New England. As a child, he spent most of his life living in Boston. This is where he began acting. A younger brother, Frank Drew (1831–1903), also came from Ireland to America, becoming an actor also.[1]: 179 

Career

After moving to the United States, Drew got a job in Joseph J. Johlen's theatrical company. He appeared in a number of Johlen's plays, including Uncle Mutch, The Barber Man, Canterbury of Livingston and The Progrist.

Drew made his first New York appearance in 1846. He played Irish and light comedy parts with success in many American cities, and was the co-manager of the famous Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia after 1860 with his actress / wife Louisa Lane Drew (1820-1897), who also assisted in the theatre management along with the nearby Walnut Street Theatre, continuing as manager alone and occasional acting roles after his 1862 death for another three decades to 1892.

Personal life

John married Louisa Lane in 1848 this being her third marriage and his first. They had subsequently three children: Louisa (1852–1888), John Jr. (1853–1927), and Georgiana (1856–1893).

Drew died at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 21, 1862, at the early age of 34, after tripping, falling and fatally hitting his head during a party for then 6-year old daughter Georgiana. He was buried in nearby Glenwood Cemetery (now Glenwood Memorial Gardens),[2] in Philadelphia, which was later closed, and his remains were then moved to nearby Mount Vernon Cemetery in Philadelphia. After his death, his wife Louisa Lane Drew took over the management of the Arch Street Theatre for the next three decades up to 1892.[3] The Arch Street venue survived as the second oldest theatre in America until 1936 when it was unfortunately demolished after 108 years.

References

  1. ^ a b c Moses, Montrose Jonas (1968) [first published 1906]. Famous Actor-Families in America. New York: Benjamin Blom, Inc. LCCN 68-58994.
  2. ^ Lindsay, Suzanne Glover (5 September 2019). "The Drews and Barrymores: A Theatrical Dynasty at St. Stephen's!". www.ststephensphl.org. St. Stephens Episcopal Church. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. ^ Wilson, Scott (19 August 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Site of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 208. ISBN 978-0-7864-7992-4. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
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