Author: Cross, John Cartwright
Biography:
CROSS, John Cartwright (d 1809: Highfill)
Few public records have been located for this actor, theatre manager, and author. Highfill states that his earliest performances at Covent Garden theatre, London, were in 1790. The roles he played, including Donalbain in Macbeth, suggest that he was very young at the time. He gradually expanded his repertoire to take on more significant roles but his real interest was in writing for the theatre. He specialised in musical works and first found success with A Divertissement performed in 1793 at Covent Garden. Cromwell wrote quickly and the list of his theatrical productions is extensive. From 1796 until his death he was also associated with the Royal Circus in St. George’s Fields, Southwark, London. The dedication of Parnassian Bagatelles to Thomas Harris of Covent Garden is dated 20 Apr. 1796 from Martlet Court, Bow Street, London; he later lived at Temple Place, and at Lambeth Road. Many of the subscribers to Parnassian Bagatelles lived in London but a few are identified as being of Portsmouth or Plymouth Dock, Devon. Cross was twice married. He married Ann Davis at St. Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on 18 Oct. 1796. No record of Ann’s death has been found but in the marriage allegation for his second marriage, to Sarah Sophia Jones, he is identified as a widower. Sarah was a minor at the time of their marriage at St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, in Oct. 1798. Cross became a co-proprietor and manager of the Royal Circus and is credited with revitalising the company after a slump in popularity during the 1780s. He was on tour with the Circus in Manchester in Dec. 1809 when he died suddenly. Possibly he was the John Cross who was buried in Manchester on 17 Dec. 1809. (Highfill; ancestry.co.uk 21 Mar. 2024; findmypast.co.uk 21 Mar. 2024; Morning Advertiser 11 Aug. 1809; The Day 17 Oct. 1809) SR
Other Names:
- J. C. Cross