John Hodgkinson

John Hodgkinson (born John Meadowcroft) (1766 – 12 September 1805) was a well-known actor in the United States in the late 18th and early 19th century. He was born in England and came to the United States in 1792. William Dunlap and Hodgkinson managed the John Street Theatre together for a few years in the 1790s.

Biography John Hodgkinson was born in England in 1766. He came to the United States to leave his wife, first making inquires to New York theater managers Lewis Hallam Jr. and John Henry of the Old American Company for positions for himself and actress Frances Brett, whom he married shortly after arriving in America. He made his American debut at the Southwark Theatre in Philadelphia in 1792, played the role of Belcour in The West Indian.

Hodgkinson was "certainly the finest actor who had appeared in America up to his day." He became the leading performer in America for the next ten years, and in 1800, he and his wife became the highest paid actors in the country ($70 to him a week, and $50 to his wife).

Hodgkinson had a ruthless reputation on the business side, eventually forcing Henry and Hallam out of their theatre management positions.

By 1794, he became a co-manager of New York's Old American Company and worked along with Lewis Hallam. In 1796, William Dunlap bought a quarter of the company and began to work alongside Hallam and Hodgkinson. In 1797, Hallam resigned and left the business to Hodgkinson and Dunlap. William Dunlap worked as Hodgkinson's partner for the next 5 years. In 1798, Hodgkinson began to additionally manage the Boston Federal Street Theater.

The roles he played would vary between tragedy, comedy, and even opera. He was praised for his powerful voice and began his career as a singer as well. A year later, he withdrew from co-managing and began working under Dunlap at the Old American Company.

In July 1800, Hodgkinson began to perform alongside his wife and Mrs. Hallam at the Summer Theater. Owned by Joseph Coree, the theater was located on the Leonard street corner of Broadway. In this theater, Hodgkinson performed in many plays; such as "Five Hundred a Year" and "Columbus's Daughter." Hodgkinson died shortly after in the year 1805.