Author: Robertson, James
Biography:
ROBERTSON, James (1714-1795: Highfill)
pseudonym Nobody
The poet was reputed a “worthy, well-educated, sensible man,” a comic genius of the stage, “of infinite wit, and most excellent fancy.” Born in Ireland in 1714 the scion of a respectable family, he enjoyed “a liberal education.” His love of science and belle lettres prepared him in early adulthood to contribute to “a Universal History,” possibly Miller’s published in 1748. He commenced his acting career at about the same time at Stratford-upon-Avon where he earned board and lodge and only 4s per week. He performed at Newcastle (1754, “Mr Robertson, riding on an Ass”), at Dublin, Edinburgh, Richmond, Twickenham, Derby, York, and at other provincial theatres. He settled at York as early as 1739 where, in that year, his wife, Frances Maria Fowler (1717-1764), gave birth to their only child, Ann. She died in infancy. For forty years or more, he was a member of the York Company of Comedians at the Theatre Royal. Though he profited from benefit performances held for him between 1754 and 1778 (at Newcastle, Derby, Sheffield, Leeds, Grantham, Stamford, Cambridge, and Peterborough), necessity drove him to supplement his income as a linen draper. He gave his farewell performance at Hull on 3 Nov. 1778 and his final performance at York on 16 Jan. 1779. A “man of wonderful quickness of fancy” (St Olave’s parish register), he died at York on 16 Aug. 1795 and was buried three days later in St Olave’s churchyard. He wrote his own, self-effacing epitaph:
See Robertson’s poor Merry-Andrew mien
The footman’s Zany—mar the comic scene;
He squints, distorts, and aims the scurvy jest;
An actor he!—A mere buffoon at best.
He was the author of The Heroine of Love, dedicated to Tate Wilkinson (published 1778), and of a novel, yet to be identified. That he was “Nobody,” the author of Poems (1770), has the authority of Dr Samuel Johnson (q.v.). The 1780 catalogue of bookseller Payne Thomas of Carlisle attributes Poems (1773) to “Robertson of York-Theatre.” Poems (1780) was advertised as “By J. Robertson, Comedian.” (CR [1770], 113-17; T. Davies, Dramatic Miscellanies [1784], 3: 136; R. Hitchcock, An Historical View of the Irish Stage [1788], 1: 213-14; S. Johnson, Works of the English Poets [1790], 69: 128; European Magazine 28 [1795], 214-15; T. Wilkinson, The Wandering Patentee [1795], 1: 50, 311; N&Q 8th ser. 4 [Sept. 1893], 277; Highfill 13: 15-16) JC
Other Names:
- J. Robertson