Life
1749-1828 [John Henry Johnstone]; b. Kilkenny; joined cavalry regiment
in Kilkenny where his father was quarter-master; appeared at Smock Alley
under Ryder, 1773-?1780; appearing as the lead in Lionel and Clarissa;
engaged by Thomas Harris at Covent Garden (1783-1803) on recommendation
of Charles Macklin; admired for his voice, he sang the part of Macheath
in The Beggar’s Opera and played various roles incl. Lucius
O’Trigger, Major O’Flaherty (The West Indian), Brulgruddery
(John Bull) and Teague (The Committee); back in in Dublin
in 1803, he played Sir Callaghan O’Brallaghan in Macklin’s Love
à la Mode; espec. noted for ability to play ‘refined Irish
gentleman’; where he played same portfolio of parts at Drury Lane
(1803-20); there is a portrait by Sir Martin Shee, engraved by Ward; m.
dg. of Col. Poitier, Gov. of Kilmainham gaol, and then Miss Boulton, dg.
of wine merchant; a grandson, Lester Wallack, wrote Memories of Fifty
Years (NY 1889); d. London and left £12,000. CRO DNB
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Notes
Johnstone's roles are listed in J. O. Bartley, Teague, Shenkin and
Sawney (Cork 1954), App. IV, pp.309-10: Dermot (Poor Pay,
1783 &c.); Foigard (Beaux Strategem 1785 &c.); O’Flaherty
(West Indian 1785 &c.); Patrick (Love in
a Camp 1786 &c.); O’Brallaghan (Love à
la Mode 1787 &c.); Macpharo (Ton 1788); MacDermot (School
for Arrogance 1791 &c.); O’Donnell (Woodman 1791 &c.);
O’Carroll (Surrender of Calais 1791 &c.); O’Whack
(Notoriety 1791); O’Liffy (Just in Time 1792); Delaney
(Irishman in London 1792 &c.); O’Trigger (Rivals
1792 &c.); Teg (Committee 1792 &c.); tully (London
Hermit 1793 et al,); Kilmallock (Mountaineers 1793 &c.);
Mullinaheck (World in a Village 1793 &c.); MacScrape (Netley
Abbey 1794 &c.); O’Lary (British Fortitude
1794 &c.); Timolin (Life’s Vagaries, 1795 et al); Parrots
(Irish Mimic 1795 &c.); Killeavy (Bank Note 1795); O’Curry
(Zorinski 1795 et al.); MacFloggan (Three and Deuce
1795); Macgallaher (Bannian Day 1796); O’Neil (Abroad and
At Home 1796, et al.); Teague (Honest Thieves, 1797 &c.);
O’Cutter (Jealous Wife 1797 et al); O’Bowling (Raft
1798); O’Blarney (Botheration 1798); O’Turloch (Cambro-Britons
1798); O’Rafarty (False and true 1798); Liffey (Ramah
Droog 1798 &c.); Killruddery (Horse and Widow 1799 et
al); O’Donnel (Castle of Sorrento 1799); Denis (Naval Pillar
1799); O’Tremor (What a Blunder 1800); Mactwolter (Review
1800).
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)