*KNOWLES, JAMES SHERIDAN, dramatist, was born in 1784 at Cork in Ireland, where his father, James Knowles, was a teacher of elocution. In 1792 James Knowles removed with his family to London. Sheridan Knowles's first attempt to construct a play was made at the age of twelve years for a company of boys. At fourteen he wrote an opera called The Chevalier de Grillon ' and 'The Welsh Harper,' a ballad. These were followed by a tragedy entitled 'The Spanish Story,' and by Elersilia,' a drama. None of these dramatic works have been preserved. About this time he was introduced to Hazlitt, who treated him with much kindness, assisted him in his dramatic studies, and became, as Knowles expresses it, his father.' About 1798 Sheridan Knowles removed to Dublin, where he resided with some relatives, and having resolved to make trial of the stage as a profession, came out at the Crow-Street Theatre, but was not favourably received. He afterwards joined a theatrical company at Waterford, in which he became an actor and singer. In the winter of 1809 Edmund Kean became an actor iu this company, and Knowles wrote a play in blank verse called Leo, or the Gipsey,' in which Kean played the principal character with great success. This play has not been preserved, but Barry Cornwall, in his Life of Edmund Kean,' has given extracts from it While at Waterford, Sheridan Knowles published by subscription a small volume of poetical ' Fugitive Pieces.' He afterwards removed to Belfast, where be became a teacher of elocution, and produced with success at the Belfast Theatre a play called 'Brian Boroitune.' This was followed by his tragedy of Caine Gracchus,' which was performed February 13th 1815 at the same theatre with very great success. His next tragedy, Virginius,' was brought out at the Glasgow Theatre, where it was played fifteen nights. It was performed in London at Covent Garden Theatre in 1820, and established his reputation as a dramatic writer. 'Caine Gracchus' was
performed at Drury Lane Theatre in 1824, and 'William Tell' at the same theatre in 1825. In these three tragedies Macready acted Virginius, Csius Gracchue, and William Tell. The Beggar's Daughter of Bethnal Green' (1828) was altered and brought out at the Victoria Theatre in 1834, Sheridan Knowles himself playing Lord Wilford. 'Alfred the Great' was performed at Drury Lane in 1831, and The Hunchback' at Covent Garden in 1832, the author taking the character of Master Walter and Miss Fanny Ramble Julia. The Wife, a Tale of Mantua,' was performed at Covent Garden in 1833, with Knowles himself as Julian St-Pierre. In 1834 he revisited his native city of Cork, and in 1835 paid a visit to the United States of America, where he was received, as well as in Ireland, with flattering demonstrations of ' respect. In 1836 The Daughter' was performed at Drury Lane, and in 1837 The Love-Chase' at the Haymarket. Afterwards came out ' Woman's Wit,' Covent Garden, 1838; ' The Maid of Mariendorpt,' Haymarket, 1838 ; Love,' Covent Garden, 1839; 'John of Procida,' Covent Garden, 1840; Old Maids,' Covent Garden, 1841; • The Rose of Arragon,' Haymarket, 1842; and The Secretary,' 1843. In 1847 he published 'Fortescue,' 3 vole. 8vo., and ' George Lovell,' 3 vols. 12mo, two novels, which did not add to his reputation. In 1849 the government rewarded his services to literature by a pension of 2001. a year. He has since published 'The Rock of Rome, or the Arch Heresy,' and The Idol demolished by its Own Priest,' two works of controversial divinity. He has also become a Baptist minister, and several of his sermons have bean printed. His Dramatic Works' havo been collected and published in 3 vols. small 8vo.