James Warde

James Prescott Warde (1792–1840) was an English actor. He came up as a provincial tragic actor, in the Garrick mould. The Dictionary of National Biography says he was "full of promise at the time of his first appearance in London", in 1818, but did not reach the top ranks of the profession.

Early life Born James Prescott in the west of England in 1792, he was the son of J. Prescott. A cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in 1807, he became second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1809. He was later superseded for "absence without leave" on 1 April 1815. On 15 April 1818 he was seen as Rob Roy, in a Bath premiere, one of his best parts and a box office success. Another supporter of Warde was Harriet Willoughby, illegitimate daughter of Charles James Fox and the courtesan Elizabeth Bridget Cane. She fell out with Hester Piozzi over the rivalry: they made up in 1820.

The London stage

Warde made his first appearance in London at the Haymarket Theatre on 17 July 1818 as Leon in John Fletcher's Rule a Wife and have a Wife: he was well received.

Next season Warde opened as Leon (26 July), and was seen as Faulkland, Don Felix in Susanna Centlivre's comedy The Wonder, Valmont in William Dimond's The Foundling of the Forest as his benefit on 28 August, and other parts. He fell ill, recuperated under the care of his wife, and taught elocution for a time. He moved to Birmingham and managed a theatre there, but ran up debts.

In 1826 Warde was Honeywood in a revival of The Good-Natur'd Man by Oliver Goldsmith, to the Croaker of William Farren. On 3 April he played Macbeth for the first time at Covent Garden. In 1827 he was seen as Cassius in Julius Caesar, one of his noted roles. He played the title-part in Henri Quatre for his own benefit on 4 June 1830.

Later life The plays produced at Covent Garden moved downmarket, and its finances were in confusion. Unable to obtain his salary in 1833, Warde left for the Olympic Theatre, and then went to the Royal Victoria Theatre under the management of William Abbot and Daniel Egerton. But the decline of the older style of "legitimate drama" reduced his opportunities. Engaged at Covent Garden during Macready's brief lesseeship of 1837–8, Warde was only given parts well down the cast list.

Warde's last years were overshadowed by debt: he was often escorted to and from the theatre by bailiffs. He died friendless and in penury, in a lodging in Manchester Street, London on 9 July 1840, at the age of 48.

Selected roles Kruitzner in The Three Strangers by Harriet Lee (1825) Dubois in The French Libertine by John Howard Payne (1826) Count Erizzo in Foscari by Mary Russell Mitford (1826) Gonzales in Francis the First by Fanny Kemble (1832) Ferrardo in The Wife by James Sheridan Knowles (1833) Tancmar in The Provost of Bruges by George William Lovell (1836) Norris in The Daughter by James Sheridan Knowles (1836) Creon in The Athenian Captive by Thomas Talfourd (1838) Baradas in Richelieu by Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1839)