JEFFERSON, Joseph, American actor: b. Philadelphia, 20 Feb. 1829; d. Palm Beach, Fla., 23 April 1905. He was
and from infancy was upon the.stage, appearing as Cora's child in 'Pizarro' when three years old, and among his first public appearances being that as a miniature of T. D. Rice in one of the latter's
Crow') entertainments at Wash ington, D. C. In 1843 he became a member of a band of strolling players that gave primitive entertainments through Mississippi and Texas, and followed the United States army into Mex ico. On his return to the United States he appeared at the Arch Street Theatre. Philadel phia, directed the performances at Peale's Mu seum in that city, became known as an excel lent stock actor, and in 1851 played Marroll in 'A New Way to Pay Old Debts' to the Sir Charles Overreach of Junius Brutus Booth. His prominence began with his creation of Asa Trenchard in
drama ran for 170 nights at the Adelphi, Lon don, in 1865, and in the United States was so successful that for years Jefferson appeared there in nothing else. Jefferson's Rip estala lished itself as one of the classic creations of the stage, and outside of Shakespeare probably no character ever attained so wide and per manent a recognition with tht American pub lic. In the later years of his life he played but a few weeks annually in a repertoire of favorite parts. He also made a considerable reputation as an artist by his impressionist landscapes in oils. His acting method was distinguished by ease, verisimilitude and perfection of finish. In the plays used by him he, for artistic pur poses, introduced several admirable changes and additions. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He published an interesting