Author: Fennell, James
Biography:
FENNELL, James (1766-1816: WBIS)
An eminent, if erratic, tragic actor. He was born in London and attended Eton and Cambridge. His father, John Fennell, was in the navy pay office; his mother's maiden name was Brady. Fennell turned to acting to pay off gambling debts, performing to acclaim in London and Edinburgh. He founded a short-lived periodical, the Theatrical Guardian. In 1792 he married Miss B. H. (possibly Barbara Harriet) Porter, and in 1793 emigrated with her to Philadelphia. Though popular and successful, he again fell into debt and tried various money-making schemes besides acting. The most disastrous were the salt-works he established on the coast to desalinate sea-water. Besides his poetical publications he is best known for a comedy, Lindor and Clara (1792) and an autobiography, An Apology for the Life of James Fennell (1814). He died in Philadelphia. (ODNB 2 Dec. 2018; ANBO 2 Dec. 2018; ancestry.com 2 Dec. 2018) HJ