HENRY JAMES FINN, born in Cape Breton in 1785, died on the steamer
_Lexington_ off Eaton's Neck, Long Island Sound, January 13, 1840,
was the son of an officer in the English Navy, who retired from that
service, and settled with his family in New York when Finn was a mere
child. His early education was received at the Academy at Hackensack,
and he was for a time a student at Princeton. While a copying clerk
in the office of Mr. Thomas Phoenix, in New York City, he found means
to become a supernumerary in the Park Theatre, and, having a taste
for drawing, took much interest in scene painting. On the death of
his father he was taken to England by his mother, and there was
subjected to such privation that he gladly took a place in a company
of country players. He was finally engaged at the Haymarket, London,
where he first appeared, May 15, 1811, as Lopez in _The Honeymoon_,
and for two seasons was an important member of the company. In 1818
he went to Savannah, where he played successfully for a year, and in
1820 became associated with J. K. Tefft as editor and publisher of
_The Georgian_, a daily newspaper. In 1821 he went again to England,
and, besides playing with success, made material reputation and
profit as a miniature painter. He returned to America, and made a
brilliant success as _Richard III._ at the Federal Street Theatre,
Boston, October 28, 1822. From that time to his tragic death on the
loss of the _Lexington_ by fire, he was a very popular actor of
tragedy and light comedy.
MONTGOMERY; OR, THE FALLS OF MONTMORENCY. A Drama in Three Acts, as
acted at the Boston Theatre. Boston, 1825. 12mo, pp. 11, 56.
This play was acted with much success.