George Jones (born probably London, England, May 10, 1810; died New
York City, New York, December 30, 1879), known later in life as
George, Count Joannes, was an English-American actor, author,
journalist, and litigator best known for his eccentric behavior later
in life.Jones was born in England in 1810. When he was six, his family
emigrated to Boston; the voyage was so harsh that his sister died, a
brother went mad, and Jones was blind for six weeks. As a young man he
studied elocution with Daniel Webster, spoke at Faneuil Hall and won
medals in rhetoric. By 1829 he was performing regularly at the Tremont
Theatre in Boston. Thomas S. Hamblin hired him for the 1831-2 season
in New York at the Bowery Theatre. He continued to play leading roles
in the New York theaters until 1836, when he sailed for England. In
England he played in various Shakespeare plays and other roles, to
considerable success. By late 1836 he had returned to New York, where
he played Hamlet at the National Theater. About 1837 he married
actress Melinda Topping, and on July 12, 1839 their daughter Avonia,
later a prominent actress herself, was born. Avonia's sister Caroline
Emma was older. The Joneses moved to Virginia shortly after Avonia's
birth; Jones managed the Marshall Theater in Richmond, and had the
Avon Theater in Norfolk built.Jones' behavior became more eccentric.
He had always been egotistical, but this became even more marked. He
wrote long letters to the newspapers detailing the successes and
honors of his European tour. On his return he painted a drop curtain
for the Norfolk theater he was managing, and on tour he distributed
bills advertising "Mr. and Mrs. George Jones/The Greatest Living
Actors/With Their Original Drop Curtain/Painted by George Jones
Himself". In 1841 he moved to England, where he lived until 1857. It
might have been around this time that he separated from his wife
Melinda; they were divorced in 1850, at her request.In England, Jones
wrote books and gave orations. He claimed to have been "Principal
Orator" at the Royal Panopticon in London. And he later claimed that
in March 1847 he was made a "Knight of the Golden Spur" and "Count
Palatine".
York City, New York, December 30, 1879), known later in life as
George, Count Joannes, was an English-American actor, author,
journalist, and litigator best known for his eccentric behavior later
in life.Jones was born in England in 1810. When he was six, his family
emigrated to Boston; the voyage was so harsh that his sister died, a
brother went mad, and Jones was blind for six weeks. As a young man he
studied elocution with Daniel Webster, spoke at Faneuil Hall and won
medals in rhetoric. By 1829 he was performing regularly at the Tremont
Theatre in Boston. Thomas S. Hamblin hired him for the 1831-2 season
in New York at the Bowery Theatre. He continued to play leading roles
in the New York theaters until 1836, when he sailed for England. In
England he played in various Shakespeare plays and other roles, to
considerable success. By late 1836 he had returned to New York, where
he played Hamlet at the National Theater. About 1837 he married
actress Melinda Topping, and on July 12, 1839 their daughter Avonia,
later a prominent actress herself, was born. Avonia's sister Caroline
Emma was older. The Joneses moved to Virginia shortly after Avonia's
birth; Jones managed the Marshall Theater in Richmond, and had the
Avon Theater in Norfolk built.Jones' behavior became more eccentric.
He had always been egotistical, but this became even more marked. He
wrote long letters to the newspapers detailing the successes and
honors of his European tour. On his return he painted a drop curtain
for the Norfolk theater he was managing, and on tour he distributed
bills advertising "Mr. and Mrs. George Jones/The Greatest Living
Actors/With Their Original Drop Curtain/Painted by George Jones
Himself". In 1841 he moved to England, where he lived until 1857. It
might have been around this time that he separated from his wife
Melinda; they were divorced in 1850, at her request.In England, Jones
wrote books and gave orations. He claimed to have been "Principal
Orator" at the Royal Panopticon in London. And he later claimed that
in March 1847 he was made a "Knight of the Golden Spur" and "Count
Palatine".
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