SAMUEL HENRY CHAPMAN, born in London, May 10, 1799; died in
Philadelphia, May 16, 1830, was an actor as well as dramatist. He
made his first appearance on the stage at Covent Garden Theatre,
London, as _Agib_, in _Timour, the Tartar_. He was brought to the
United States in 1827 by Mr. Francis Courtney Wemyss, manager of the
Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, in company with Mr. and Mrs.
Sloman, Mrs. Austin, and Miss Emery, for the stock company of that
theatre. His debut was made October 31, 1827, as _Pierre_ in _Venice
Preserved_. He became a favorite immediately, and of him it is said
he had no equal in heroic roles in his time. In May, 1829, he became
joint manager of the Walnut Street Theatre. He married Elizabeth
Jefferson, daughter of the elder and aunt of the now living Joseph
Jefferson, in the same year. While riding, to illustrate to an artist
the scene of the robbery in Turner's Lane in his own play of _The
Mail Coach_, he was thrown from his horse, and so injured that he
died within a week. It is said his hurt was aggravated greatly by the
fact that he continued to play every night, and having a piece of
brass armor next his skin, blood-poisoning was caused in his wounded
shoulder.
THE RED ROVER. A Drama founded on J. F. Cooper's novel of that name.
Philadelphia, n. d. 18mo, pp. 52.
Played at Chestnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, 1828.