| Harry ( Henry James) Montague as Captain Molyneux ( I have seen him billed as Captain Molineauex) in the image of Montague being mistakingly sold as a portrait of a real British officer! Henry James Montague is often thought of as an American actor although he was born in Cheshire, England in 1843 under the name of Henry James Mann. His father, a clergyman, had wanted his son to follow in his calling but Henry found employment in a London banking house. He was discovered by one Dion Boucicault who has observed him in the private theatricals so popular at the time. It was not long before the twenty year old Mann - now known by his adopted stage name - had made his mark at Drury Lane. He toured England to ever greater accolades eventually returning to London and taking up management of the Globe Theater. In 1874 he moved to New York and almost immediately began to enjoy the accolades of both audiences and critics alike. George Odell wrote of him: "Montague became at once the accepted matinée idol; he was handsome, gentle and gentlemanly, a perfect specimen of refined English manhood. New York had seen nothing like him before; he had the faculty of making most other leading men seem boorish, ill‐dressed, and possibly a bit vulgar. ... His photographs by Mora and Sarony were soon on every dressing‐table." Montague died of consumption at San Francisco, California at the early age of 34 two days before the close of his performance as Captain Molyneux. His popularity was such that at the time he was being paid the astronomical fee of $1000.00 a month. His funeral was mentioned New York Times of 22 August, 1878: "The mortal remains of Henry J. Montague were laid to rest yesterday within the quiet precincts of Green-Wood Cemetery. No elaborate ceremonies were performed over the coffin, but a thousand mourners, many of them weeping attend the services in "The Little Church Around the Corner," and as many more followed the hearse to the cemetery. The funeral services were carried out in accordance with the programme previously arranged." Carte de Visite (trimmed) Sarony - Photographer 37 Union Square, New York, New York, U.S.A. 1875 |
