Richard Usher

Richard Usher (1785 – 23 September 1843) was an English clown and theatre designer. He performed for many years at Astley's Amphitheatre.

Early life and career He was born in 1785. His father, the proprietor of a mechanical exhibition, travelled in the north of England and in Ireland. Richard took a share in the management of the exhibition, and inherited his father's talent in the construction of curious contrivances. With a friend he gave exhibitions in Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, and other towns. At Christmas 1807 he appeared at the Liverpool Amphitheatre as a clown, and was immediately successful.

In 1809 he first appeared at Astley's Amphitheatre in London, and remained popular there for many years. His annual benefit was an occasion on which extraordinary performances took place both in and out of the theatre. The most remarkable of these took place in 1828, when in a washing-tub drawn by geese he sailed down the Thames from Westminster to Waterloo Bridge. He was then to have proceeded in a car drawn by eight cats to the Coburg Theatre, but the crowd in the Waterloo Road made this impossible, and he was carried to the theatre on the shoulders of several watermen.

Family He married firstly Mrs. Pincott (the mother of Leonora Pincott, wife of Alfred Wigan); secondly, a sister of James William Wallack, who survived him with a family.