BYRON, HENRY JAMES (1834-1884), English play wright, was born in Manchester in Jan. 1834. He entered the Middle Temple as a student in 1858, but soon joined a provincial company as an actor. He was the first editor of the weekly comic paper Fun, and started the short-lived Comic Trials. His first successes were in burlesque; but in 1865 he joined Miss Marie Wilton (afterwards Lady Bancroft) in the management of the Prince of Wales's theatre, near Tottenham Court road. Here several of his pieces, comedies and extravaganzas were produced with success; but, upon starting management on his own account in the provinces, he was financially unfortunate. The commercial success of his life was secured with Our Boys, which was played at the Vaudeville from Jan. 1875 till April 1879—a then un precedented "run." The Upper Crust, another of his successes, gave a congenial opportunity to Mr. J. L. Toole for one of his inimitably broad character-sketches. H. J. Byron was the author of some of the most popular stage pieces of his day. He wrote one novel, Paid in Full (1865) . He had many friends, among whom he was justly popular for geniality and imperturbable good temper. He died at Clapham on April II, 1884.