Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Grain, Richard Corney

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1389663Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement, Volume 2 — Grain, Richard Corney1901John Joseph Knight

GRAIN, RICHARD CORNEY (1844–1895), public entertainer, youngest son of John Grain, was born on 26 Oct. 1844 at Teversham, Cambridgeshire, and received what he called 'an average middle-class education,' partly in Germany, whither he went when fourteen, became a student on 27 April 1863, and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple on 30 April 1866. For a short period he went on the western circuit. Having much musical and less histrionic proficiency, he sang and acted in private, and on 16 May 1870 joined what was known as the German Reed entertainment, then given at the Gallery of Illustration, appearing in a sketch of his own called 'The School-feast.'

With this company he remained till the close of his life, becoming in the end its principal support. He played or sang with it at St. George's Hall, to which it removed, and in the country, and wrote for it between fifty and sixty entertainments consisting of social sketches accompanied by songs and pianoforte music. He took part at times in the comediettas or other dramatic performances given by the company, but had, as he owned, little taste or capacity for acting. His comic sketches were fashionable, and were frequently given in private houses. He had a large frame with exceptionally large and expressive hands. His death on 16 March 1895, following as it did that, ten days earlier, of his associate, Alfred German Reed, broke up what had been for forty years a popular entertainment [see under Reed, Thomas German]. His last sketch was entitled 'Music à la Mode.' Grain was responsible for many songs. He wrote 'Corney Grain, by Himself,' which first appeared in 'Murray's Magazine,' and was issued separately in 1888.

[Personal recollections; Corney Grain, by Himself; Foster's Men at the Bar; The Theatre, April 1895; Hollingshead's Gaiety Chronicles; Scott and Howard's Blanchard.]

J. K.