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English dramatist and antiquary James Robinson Planché,
was born in London on the 27th of February 1796, the son of a
watchmaker of Huguenot descent. In 1810 he was articled to a
bookseller. In 1818 his first dramatic piece, a burlesque entitled
Amoroso, King of Little Britain, was produced at Drury
Lane theatre. From this time onwards he made playwriting his
principal work. In 1820-1821 he wrote ten pieces for the Adelphi
theatre. In 1823 he designed the dresses for Charles Kemble's
revival of King John at Covent Garden, and superintended
its production. This was the first time that an historical drama
had been dressed in the costume of the period. In 1828 he began
writing regularly for the Covent Garden theatre, and in 1830
was manager of the Adelphi. On the occasion of Mme. Vestris taking
the Olympic theatre in 1831, Planch entered into an agreement
with her to write a series of plays. The first of these, Olympic
Revels, a burlesque, was given on the opening night of the
theatre, the performance being given in correct classical costume.
In 1843 his Fair One with the Golden Locks was produced
by Webster at the Haymarket.
In 1847 Mme. Vestris became manager of the Lyceum theatre, and
Planché was engaged as her leading author and designer,
his principal success being The Island of Jewels (1849).
Subsequently he wrote for a number of other managements, his
last dramatic piece being King Christmas (1871), but he
also wrote the songs for Babil and Bijou at Covent Garden
(1872). In addition to his dramatic work Planché enjoyed
a considerable reputation as an antiquary and heraldic student.
He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and aided in the
foundation of the British Archaeological Association in 1843.
In 1834 he published The History of British Costumes. In 1854
he was appointed Rouge Croix pursuivant of arms at the Heralds
College, and in 1866 Somerset herald. In 1869, at the request
of the War Office, he arranged the collection of armour at the
Tower of London in chronological order. He died at Chelsea on
the 30th of May 1880. Planché's Recollections and Reflections
were published in 1872.
| This article is
reprinted from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition.
New York: Encyclopaedia Britannica Co., 1911. |
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