Page:A Compendium of Irish Biography.djvu/292

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JON

position suitable for the display of his dramatic powers. His success in Dublin, and in London, whither he removed in 1 783, was marked ; in the delineation of Irish characters he is stated to have shone pre-eminent. In 1803 he quitted Co vent- garden for Drury-lane, and the same sum- mer visited Dublin, where his company was obliged to play in the day-time, in con- sequence of martial law being then in force. He amassed a large fortune, which was inherited by his daughter, Mrs. Wallack, and her children. He died in London, 26th December 1828, aged about 78, and was interred in a vault under the church of St. Paul, Covent-garden. " In the records of the stage no actor ever ap- proached Johnstone in Irish characters. Sir Lucius O'Trigger, Callaghan O'Bral- laghan, Major O'Flaherty, Teague, Tully, and Dennis Brulgruddery were portrayed by him in exquisite colours. In fact they stood alone for felicity of nature and original merit." ^ " His rich and delicious singing, and his agreeable and social man- ners gained the hearts of gentle and sim- ple in his native city. There have been many excellent actors of the low Irishman, but there has been only one comedian that could delineate the refined Irish gentleman, and enter into the genuine unsophisticated humour of a son of the Emerald Isle, with equal talent." 3 3* 338(1803)

Jones, Frederick E., a well-known theatrical manager, was born at Vesings- town, in the County of Meath, about 1759. Several of his early years were spent on the Continent; in 1794 he was permitted by patent to conduct subscription theatri- cals in Dublin; and in 1795 the Earl of Westmoreland nominated him to raise a fencible regiment. In 1796 he purchased Mr. Daly's interest in Crow-street Theatre, which he beautified and conducted with considerable success for many years, not- withstand'- g the political disturbances of the time, and the occasional outrageous conduct of Dublin audiences. Full par- ticulars of his management will be found in Gilbert's History of Dublin. He was con- sidered one of the handsomest men of his time, and was popularly known as " Buck Jones." His name is preserved in Jones's- road, Dublin, which led to his mansion of Clonliffe House. He died in 1834. "°

Jones, Henry, Bishop of Meath, was born in Wales about the year 1605. [His father, Lewis Jones, Bishop of KUlaloe, died in Dublin in 1646, aged about 103, and was buried in St. Werburgh's. He had four sons — Sir Theophilus Jones, a cap- tain in the army ; Colonel Michael Jones, an able Parliamentary officer, appointed 268

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Governor of Dublin, who defeated Ormond at the battle of Rathmines ; Henry Jones, the subject of this notice; and Ambrose Jones, Bishop of Kildare.] In October 1 64 1 Henry Jones unsuccessfully defended the castle of Belanenagh against the O'Reillys, was for a time held prisoner by the Irish, and after his release was instrumental in the preservation of Drogh- eda, by giving the Lords-Justices timely notice of a plan for its seizure. He did much to mitigate the suflferings of the Protestants during the war, and went to London to collect money for their relief. Upon his return in 1645 he was consecrated Bishop of Clogher ; yet we afterwards find him Scout-Master-General to Cromwell's army, a post which Ware declares " not so decent for one of his function." Ap- pearing early in favour of the Restoration, his countenance of Cromwell was forgotten, and in 1661 he was advanced to the see of Meath. Fifteen years Vice-Chancellor of Trinity College, he made considerable im- provements in the Library. He died in Dublin, 5th January 1681, and was buried in St. Ajidrew's Church. Harris styles him " a prelate of considerable fame for his learning and profound judgment in poli- ticks, hospitality, and a constant exercise of preaching." Besides numerous sermons, he wrote historical relations of the War of i64i-'52, an account of St. Patrick's Pur- gatory, and several works enumerated in Harris's Ware. Harris says in his notice of Lewis Jones and his sons : " From the first of these gentlemen [Sir Theophilus Jones, above mentioned] are descended three orphan females, who are the printers of these sheets. 'God is the judge, he maketh low, and he maketh high.' " The printer of Ware's first volume in 1739 is E. Jones— probably the " Miss Elizabeth Jones, 3 Books," in the list of subscribers. Both she and Harris lived in Clarendon- street. 339

Jones, Henry, a poet and dramatist of the 1 8th century, was born at Drogheda. While still a journeyman bricklayer in 1745, some poetry which he wrote secured him an introduction to the Earl of Chester- field, then Lord-Lieutenant. This noble- man took him under his protection, brought him to London, introduced him to society, and prevailed on the managers of Covent Garden Theatre to bring out one of his plays. The Earl of Essex. With fair abili- ties and good friends, success was assured, were it not for his capricious temper and irregular life. He died in poverty, in a London garret, April 1770. '* 36

Jones, Thomas, Archbishop of Dub- lin and Lord-Chancellor, was born in