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{{short description|Music hall entertainer}}
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'''Samuel Houghton Cowell''' (5 April 1820- 11 March 1864) was an actor and singer of [[comical song]]s.
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}{{Infobox person
⚫
| name = Sam Cowell
| image = "Lord Lovell" by Mr. Sam Cowell (BM 1874,1010.326).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Cowell as "Lord Lovell"
⚫
| birth_name = Samuel Houghton Cowell
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1820|4|5|df=y}}
⚫
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1864|3|11|1820|4|5|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Blandford Forum]], [[Dorset]], England
| nationality = British
| other_names =
| occupation = Actor, singer, comic entertainer
| years_active = 1829–1863
| known_for =
| notable_works =
⚫
}}
⚫
'''Samuel Houghton Cowell''' (5 April 1820 – 11 March 1864) was an actor and singer of [[comical song]]s. He was born in England and raised in the United States.


==Biography==
Born in London, he was the son of [[Joseph Cowell]], a British actor who brought him to the United States in 1822.<ref name="DNB">J. W. Ebsworth, ‘Cowell, Samuel Houghton (1820–1864)’, rev. Nilanjana Banerji, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 </ref> He worked as a child actor in the United States, having first appeared there aged nine in [[Boston]] as Crack in ''The Turnpike Gate'', a play by Thomas Knight, in which he sang a duet with his father 'When off in curricle we go'.<ref name="DNB"/> Thereafter he appeared at many major theatres in America, hailed as 'the young American Roscius'.<ref name="DNB"/> He also appeared in Shakespeare plays, notably in the ''Comedy of Errors'' playing one of twin brothers, with his father playing the other.<ref name="DNB"/>
Born in London, he was the son of [[Joseph Cowell]], a British actor who took him to the United States in 1822.<ref name="DNB">J. W. Ebsworth, 'Cowell, Samuel Houghton (1820–1864)', rev. Nilanjana Banerji, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004</ref> He was educated in a military academy near [[Philadelphia]], and worked as a child actor in the United States. He first appeared there aged nine in [[Boston]] as Crack in ''The Turnpike Gate'', a play by Thomas Knight, in which he sang a duet with his father "When off in curricle we go".<ref name="DNB"/> Thereafter, he appeared at many major theatres in America, hailed as "the young [[Master Betty|American Roscius]]".<ref name="DNB"/> He also appeared in Shakespeare plays, notably in the ''Comedy of Errors'' playing one of twin brothers, with his father playing the other.<ref name="DNB"/>


At the age of 20 he returned to Britain, first to [[Edinburgh]] where he became a successful actor working for his uncle W. H. Murray, who managed the Theatre Royal and the Adelphi there.<ref name="DNB"/> He also succeeded as a comic singer in [[entr'actes]].<ref name="DNB"/> Later as his career developed he became primarily a [[music hall]] artist, performing comical songs and [[burlesque]]s in London [[song and supper room]]s. Songs that he made famous included ''"The Ratcatcher's Daughter"'' and [[''"Villikins and his Dinah"'']].<ref>{{citation |url=http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UYsXbFvjrXkC&pg=PA186 |title=The Cambridge guide to American theatre |author=Don B. Wilmeth}}</ref>
At the age of 20, he returned to Britain, first to [[Edinburgh]] where he became a successful actor working for his uncle W. H. Murray, who managed the [[Theatre Royal, Edinburgh|Theatre Royal]] and the Adelphi there.<ref name="DNB"/> He also succeeded as a comic singer in [[entr'actes]],<ref name="DNB"/> and by the late 1840s concentrated entirely on singing.<ref name=baker>Richard Anthony Baker, ''British Music Hall: an illustrated history'', Pen & Sword, 2014, {{ISBN|978-1-78383-118-0}}, pp.8-9</ref> As his career developed, he became primarily a [[music hall]] artist, performing comical songs and [[burlesque]]s in London [[song and supper room]]s. Songs that he made famous included "The Ratcatcher's Daughter" and "[[Villikins and his Dinah]]".<ref>{{citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UYsXbFvjrXkC&pg=PA186 |title=The Cambridge guide to American theatre |author=Don B. Wilmeth|isbn=9780521835381 |date=13 September 2007 }}</ref><ref name="NYT">Obituary: ''New York Times'', 3 April 1863</ref>


Cowell became extremely popular and successful, appearing twice before Queen Victoria at her court theatricals.<ref name="DNB"/> In 1860 he returned to America to tour, but at about this period his health, previously robust, began to break down.<ref name="DNB"/> He developed consumption after his return to London in 1862 and moved to Blandford, Dorset, to recuperate. He died and was buried in the cemetery at Blandford, where there is a monument to him erected by his friends.<ref name="DNB"/>
Cowell became extremely popular and successful, and is credited with establishing the music hall, a new form of entertainment.<ref name="NYT"/> He appeared twice before Queen Victoria at her court theatricals.<ref name="DNB"/> According to music hall historian Harold Scott, Cowell was "a vividly remembered personality.. [who] ranks.. among the greatest exponents of entertainment."<ref name=scott>Harold Scott, ''The Early Doors: Origins of the Music Hall'', Nicholson & Watson, 1946, pp.120-121</ref>

He toured throughout England, staging a concert almost every night between 1857 and 1859. His schedule led to overwork, and to alcohol dependence.<ref name=baker/> In 1860, he returned to America to tour, again with a very busy schedule. His health, previously robust, began to break down;<ref name="DNB"/> his wife's diary described him at one point as "feeble as an infant... merely skin and bone", but he continued to tour in the U.S. and Canada.<ref name=baker/>

He developed [[tuberculosis|consumption]] after his return to London in 1862. He continued to act in the provinces.<ref>{{cite news|title= Wisbech Concert|newspaper= Cambridge Independent Press |date= 29 November 1862|page= 7}}</ref> Eventually his failing health made it impossible for him to continue performing and, in 1863, he was declared bankrupt.<ref>''The Times'' (London, England), 27 July 1863, p.11</ref> He moved with his family to stay with friends in [[Blandford Forum]], Dorset, to recuperate.

Sam Cowell died in the following March and was buried in the cemetery at Blandford Forum, where there is a monument to him erected by his friends.<ref name="DNB"/><ref>[https://www.deceasedonline.com Samuel Houghton Stackwood Cowell, buried 15 March 1864 ]</ref>

== Private life ==
He married Emilie Marguerite Ebsworth and they had eight children. The two daughters, Sydney Cowell (1846–1925) and Florence Cowell, and one of their sons, Joseph, were actors.<ref name="DNB" />


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==Further reading==
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
*Emilie Marguerite Ebsworth Cowell: ''The Cowells in America; Being the Diary of Mrs. Sam Cowell during Her Husband's Concert Tour in the Years 1860-1861'' M. Wilson Disher (ed.), Oxford University Press, 1934
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| NAME = Cowell, Sam

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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Samuel Houghton Cowell
==External links==
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Music hall entertainer

| DATE OF BIRTH = 5 April 1820
{{Commons category}}
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = London, England

| DATE OF DEATH = 11 March 1864
*{{cite DNB|wstitle=Cowell, Samuel Houghton|volume=12}}
| PLACE OF DEATH = Blandford, Dorset, England

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}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowell, Sam}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cowell, Sam}}
[[Category:American male actors]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:British actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:Music hall performers]]
[[Category:Music hall performers]]
[[Category:1820 births]]
[[Category:1820 births]]
[[Category:1864 deaths]]
[[Category:1864 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:English male child actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]

Latest revision as of 07:39, 1 September 2023

Sam Cowell
Cowell as "Lord Lovell"
Born
Samuel Houghton Cowell

(1820-04-05)5 April 1820
London, England
Died11 March 1864(1864-03-11) (aged 43)
Blandford Forum, Dorset, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Actor, singer, comic entertainer
Years active1829–1863

Samuel Houghton Cowell (5 April 1820 – 11 March 1864) was an actor and singer of comical songs. He was born in England and raised in the United States.

Biography

[edit]

Born in London, he was the son of Joseph Cowell, a British actor who took him to the United States in 1822.[1] He was educated in a military academy near Philadelphia, and worked as a child actor in the United States. He first appeared there aged nine in Boston as Crack in The Turnpike Gate, a play by Thomas Knight, in which he sang a duet with his father "When off in curricle we go".[1] Thereafter, he appeared at many major theatres in America, hailed as "the young American Roscius".[1] He also appeared in Shakespeare plays, notably in the Comedy of Errors playing one of twin brothers, with his father playing the other.[1]

At the age of 20, he returned to Britain, first to Edinburgh where he became a successful actor working for his uncle W. H. Murray, who managed the Theatre Royal and the Adelphi there.[1] He also succeeded as a comic singer in entr'actes,[1] and by the late 1840s concentrated entirely on singing.[2] As his career developed, he became primarily a music hall artist, performing comical songs and burlesques in London song and supper rooms. Songs that he made famous included "The Ratcatcher's Daughter" and "Villikins and his Dinah".[3][4]

Cowell became extremely popular and successful, and is credited with establishing the music hall, a new form of entertainment.[4] He appeared twice before Queen Victoria at her court theatricals.[1] According to music hall historian Harold Scott, Cowell was "a vividly remembered personality.. [who] ranks.. among the greatest exponents of entertainment."[5]

He toured throughout England, staging a concert almost every night between 1857 and 1859. His schedule led to overwork, and to alcohol dependence.[2] In 1860, he returned to America to tour, again with a very busy schedule. His health, previously robust, began to break down;[1] his wife's diary described him at one point as "feeble as an infant... merely skin and bone", but he continued to tour in the U.S. and Canada.[2]

He developed consumption after his return to London in 1862. He continued to act in the provinces.[6] Eventually his failing health made it impossible for him to continue performing and, in 1863, he was declared bankrupt.[7] He moved with his family to stay with friends in Blandford Forum, Dorset, to recuperate.

Sam Cowell died in the following March and was buried in the cemetery at Blandford Forum, where there is a monument to him erected by his friends.[1][8]

Private life

[edit]

He married Emilie Marguerite Ebsworth and they had eight children. The two daughters, Sydney Cowell (1846–1925) and Florence Cowell, and one of their sons, Joseph, were actors.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j J. W. Ebsworth, 'Cowell, Samuel Houghton (1820–1864)', rev. Nilanjana Banerji, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004
  2. ^ a b c Richard Anthony Baker, British Music Hall: an illustrated history, Pen & Sword, 2014, ISBN 978-1-78383-118-0, pp.8-9
  3. ^ Don B. Wilmeth (13 September 2007), The Cambridge guide to American theatre, ISBN 9780521835381
  4. ^ a b Obituary: New York Times, 3 April 1863
  5. ^ Harold Scott, The Early Doors: Origins of the Music Hall, Nicholson & Watson, 1946, pp.120-121
  6. ^ "Wisbech Concert". Cambridge Independent Press. 29 November 1862. p. 7.
  7. ^ The Times (London, England), 27 July 1863, p.11
  8. ^ Samuel Houghton Stackwood Cowell, buried 15 March 1864

Further reading

[edit]
  • Emilie Marguerite Ebsworth Cowell: The Cowells in America; Being the Diary of Mrs. Sam Cowell during Her Husband's Concert Tour in the Years 1860-1861 M. Wilson Disher (ed.), Oxford University Press, 1934
[edit]
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