The New York herald., 1871-12-29
o B 1T U q n 2.
Jnmes Henry Haclxcst.
Chfsf Jutics-What's he that goes therey
Atta1,nt--FaIstan an please your lOrdykip

deserves tributary attention and precise memorial
now that ne has passed away from the stage o. life
ITSELF As announced IN the HERALD yesterday, he
had been seriously Ill for some weeks with COM
plicaton Of disorders incident 10 advanced life. He
died early on Thursday morning his country seat
In Jamaica, Long Island. He had risen to walk
across the room, but, finding himself too weak, re-
turned TO his bed, and, after a brief gasp.
Ing for iul return Of breath, died with.
out struggle or painful OF his wonted
mental energy to the last Although MFR. HacKett
was New Yorker born and bred and In this city
is his ample estate. he always preferred Jamaica
residence, because It was the home OF his mater
nal ancestors. There lived the distinguished
Keteltas family, whose name Ia borne a. Q middle
one Dy our Recorder Nhe only surviving son
OF the deceased). The mother OF the latter was
daughter OF Knlckerbocker dominic-the Rev.
Abraham Ketetas. Thus the Church aided to fos-
ter votary Of the stage. The father was British
ofncer OF Irish descent who came to New York
shortly after the Revolutionary War and who had
served In the Life Guard OF the Prince
OF Orange. On this side OF the house, indeed Mr..
Hackett was or noble lineage. When he visited
Europe the second time he instituted inquiries, at
the request OF his moncr, which resulted III show.
Ing that he was the rlghLu heir to the titles ana
h0nOrs or "BarOn Hackett or nackettstown, county
Carlow, and shelton Abbey, county Wicklow,
Ireland" This family IL one Of the best In the
Emerald Isle, and was founded by one OF the great
Norman Darons who came over with william the
First, and whose namc still appears head
ing the Conqueror's roll OF his six ana
thirty mobiles and generals. Inscribed A.
d. 1906 upon the pillar erected az Battle
Abbey. near Hastings England. One OF the pro-
geny Of this distin ngutshed warrior accompanied
Henry H. III MS famous Irish expedition, obtained
vast estates reward for hts services and founded
the branch OF the family OF which Mr.. Hackctt was
the representative. All OF the above facts pub
lished In the London C0u't Journal IN 1889, and are
undoubtedly authentic.
James H. Hackett was born al No. 72 Will
liam street. He came In with the century. and
at the time OF his death was therefore seventy.
one years old. His education began at a famous
academy In jamaica ana for short time he was
matricuated In Columbia College; but he did not
graduate, and entered law 0flce Mr. Hackett was
essentially Bohemlanish throughout lie. He soon
wearied Of red tape and formulas and became a
merchants clerk. Irresistbly he was drawn TO-
ward the theatre and became frequent habtue of
the old PARK. While only nineteen years old
ne saw and Immediately fell in love with
and soon married one OF the most charm
ing vocasts and actresses OF that day
MISS Katharine Lee Sugg, who had recently arrived
from England with her sister. Mrs. Sharpe another
famous actress Miss Lee sugg was OF excellent
English family, highly educated Of sprightly man.
ner and with an irresistible fascination and mag
netsm Of uemeanor Halleck, In his "CrOakcrs,"
thus portrayed hers
There's Miss Lee the by she's not pretty;
she's little too large and has M not too much grace
IT'S pleasure gaze on her good-humorcd face
'sShe was IN fact and here we quote the famous
dramatic critic reandl the very Hebe OF actresses
Her fOrte was comedy; her merry, rompng country
laSSes have never since been equaed. Her noble
contralto voice attracted uniform applause. She
sician, ana may be considered In style and piquancy
oi acting the best Rosina Of the English version OF
to the stage In her seventh year. and was known IN
the British provinces as 1.-The Infant Billington"
ties have been perfectly reproduced in one OF ner iiv
lug descendants; ana this extended reference to
T rs nSs u 81 psce 10
become an actor. Soon after the marriage the
latter engaged in mercantile pursuits at Unca, IN
the interior; but Bohemian like, he sighed for
New iOrk excitemcnts, aud returned 10 them after
five years absence in 1925. In the Following year,
however he failed. and, after honorable settlement
with creditors allowed his wife to return TO the
Parh stage, "where her powers as vocalist and
comic actress again snone forth In lull maturity,
hrst iavorltes Of the town" Her husband
COCK In tho musical oureita Of 'Love Ia Village"
the critics were KIND enough to notice the strtig-
Cling aptitude Tor humorous expression IN face,
voice and action, Tor whose development he alter
wards became famous. However. his own pluck
and his wilc's persuasions gave HIM second
attempt In his twentysxth year. on the occasion OF
MS wires benefit AT this ne appeared as Sylvester
paggerwood ana gave excellent mimicry OF
OTHER OTHER actors 0' Wen known to the New YORK
public Thls proved to be be q NIT and ne now
aGopssd the Within the year ne dts
doubted success, o Yankee part, Scotch part, a
French one Mons. Tonson) and also one OF the Dro
miOs. SO rapid was his advancement that In the
next year, by engagement OF Price & Simpson, he
went 10 London, at one OF the theatres controlled
BY the former, and was favOraby received.
HIS dia ect mincry was always remarkable, and
yet 1t was only an instance OF inherited lngual
Ketelias first, namea-spoke and wrote several
languages and Indian dialects, and mad frequently
same Sunday. Retaining 70 % New YorR Mr %
HacKett rewrote Colman's "Who Wants
wa 70 sS
Sckiles, stage writers ana Mrs. Trollopel under
the cognomen Of solomon swop lie also mad ry.
years it was as much ms peculiar and acknow-
edged part as Is now Bouclcaulrs version exclu-
slvcly awarded to Jefersons porlraiture. Mr. Hack
EFT also had written up for MIN aiding himself
In the matter) Western role, as Nimrod Wilddre.
Thus 1t was that MIR. Hackett essentially won for
himself the title oil American comedian, because
his earliest e1orts were devoted to reproducing and
| with mercantile remembrances Mr.. Hackett essayed
management many times throughout his career, but
~ hS 5 ana Mario apa G ~
all successful AT various times from 1929 to 1855 he
has managed the id 0Id Chatham. a gowery, Church
s,IoS. n"so., 80 nIso So '.Io 'n,av,So
| and New Orleans. Still prc-emuently success ul
IN dialect parts, he added O'CalaRhan In his "Last
4 Iegs,n as a bit OF lrishism, and also the Scotch
roe OF Sir Pertnax MacSycophant, IN "Man OF the
| World.u The former role was not happy one for
| MIN perhaps because ne had Tyrone Powers to con-
| tend against; but his Sir Pertinax-as VIC have
heard Mr.. Gerard, the veteran critic OF the drama
admit-was admit positively unapproacnabe BY any one
| since the days or Macklin. FalstaH, however,
| reserved 10 become his wOrld-ren0wned 7oie and
iiackets ana TastaY became as convertible terms IN
dramatic circles as are S0thern and Dundreary,
Booth and Hamlet, Lester Wallack and Don CEsar
de Bazail, or Jefferson aud Rip Van WinKle George
Wilkes In his SPIRIT or TIE Times February, 1862,
| said thereon:-
believe could Shakespeare his plays they
dav he would esteem Hackett the best
exponent OF the delightful and difficult OF his
trod the since his bones lad
by Avon's will this actors fame be
my opinion From the very nature ana degree of he s
without rival ivng he win be without admirers
cardxa mill md ger