James H. Caldwell

James Henry Caldwell (May 10, 1793 – September 11, 1863), was an English-born and entrepreneur. Known as New Orleans "Father of Light", He was the son of Edward Henry Caldwell of Manchester.

As well as managing the Camp Street Theatre for 11 years, Caldwell took his company to various towns including Natchez, Nashville, and Huntsville. In 1829, Sol Smith, a famous actor and manager in the Southwest at the time, joined his company. There were also many other famous actors that Caldwell engaged with; Edwin Forrest was one of them who performed at the Camp Street Theatre in 1829.

Soon after, he announced his retirement, leasing the Camp Street Theatre to Richard Russell and James Simon Rowe, but never fully retired due to his love for the theatre and his career. He instead opened St. Charles Theatre in 1835 and the Royal Street Theatre in 1841. However, Caldwell fully retired when the St. Charles Theatre burned down in 1842. He organized the New Orleans Gas Light Company, with a capital of $300,000. Failing to get any of the citizens to join him in this pioneer, but promising, enterprise, he determined to light the city at his own expense, which remarkable feat he accomplished in September 1833. Together, they were the parents of:

William Shakespeare Caldwell (1821–1874), who married Mary Eliza Breckinridge, a daughter of U.S. Representative James D. Breckinridge, in 1853. Sophia Caldwell (1824–1872), who married Thomas J. Deane of New York in 1862. Together, they were the parents of: Caldwell married the young actress Josephine Rowe, whose mother, Louisa, he had worked with for decades, in 1851 after Margaret's death. This also means Caldwell and his first wife must have been divorced by this time. Together, they were the parents of: Harry Stroud Caldwell (1855-1860)

Through his son William, he was the grandfather of American philanthropist Mary Gwendolin des Monstiers-Mérinville and the great-grandfather of German-born American bridge champion Baron Waldemar von Zedtwitz.