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The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
James Sheridan Knowles (1784–1862)
Knowles, James Sheridan. An Irish actor, lecturer, and dramatist; born at Cork, May 12, 1784; died at Torquay, England, Nov. 30, 1862. He made his first appearance as an actor in 1806, but never attained much eminence in that profession. Subsequently he taught elocution for several years at Belfast and Glasgow, and wrote for the stage. He abandoned dramatic work in 1845 from religious scruples, devoted himself to literature, and later became well known as a Baptist preacher. Of his works only the tragedy of ‘Virginius’ (produced 1820) and the comedies ‘The Hunchback’ (1832) and ‘The Love Chase’ (1837) have survived. They are good “acting plays,” and always popular, but possess little literary value. Among his other dramas may be mentioned: ‘Caius Gracchus’ (1815); ‘William Tell’ (1825); ‘Alfred the Great’ (1831); ‘The Wife: A Tale of Mantua’ (1833); ‘The Rose of Aragon’ (1842).