Jean Haskell Hosmer (January , â€" January , ) was an American
actress and tragedienne who reached the zenith of her career directly
following the American Civil War, and is associated through her career
with actor and Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth along his brother
Edwin Booth.Hosmer was a cousin of sculptor Harriet Hosmer and of poet
William H. C. Hosmer.Born in , near Boston, Massachusetts, Hosmer and
her family moved to near Buffalo, New York, when she was four years
old. At the age of eight, Hosmer's desire to act was stimulated by
witnessing a performance of Douglas Jerrold's play Black-Eyed Susan.
Hosmer soon after fell ill with an unknown disease which was
attributed to her intense excitement for the production. Upon her
recovery she continued to visit the theatre despite her parents'
objections, often dressed in boys' clothes. She attended the Genesee
and Wyoming Seminary in Alexander, New York, for a short time but
remained committed to having a career on the stage. Her parents,
influenced by her father's failings in business, eventually gave their
consent so long as she performed under a stage name.Under the stage
name "Miss Jennie Stanley," Hosmer began her career in Buffalo doing
ballet at the age of . At the age of , under the tutelage of actor
Barton Hill, she gained her first speaking role at the Metropolitan
Theatre and was soon promoted to member of the theater's stock
company. In , while a leading actress, the young Hosmer was noticed by
McVicker's Theater in Chicago and was recruited by the playhouse for
its company. She performed with the company there under the name "Miss
Jean Stanley" for two years supporting the Booth brothers.
actress and tragedienne who reached the zenith of her career directly
following the American Civil War, and is associated through her career
with actor and Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth along his brother
Edwin Booth.Hosmer was a cousin of sculptor Harriet Hosmer and of poet
William H. C. Hosmer.Born in , near Boston, Massachusetts, Hosmer and
her family moved to near Buffalo, New York, when she was four years
old. At the age of eight, Hosmer's desire to act was stimulated by
witnessing a performance of Douglas Jerrold's play Black-Eyed Susan.
Hosmer soon after fell ill with an unknown disease which was
attributed to her intense excitement for the production. Upon her
recovery she continued to visit the theatre despite her parents'
objections, often dressed in boys' clothes. She attended the Genesee
and Wyoming Seminary in Alexander, New York, for a short time but
remained committed to having a career on the stage. Her parents,
influenced by her father's failings in business, eventually gave their
consent so long as she performed under a stage name.Under the stage
name "Miss Jennie Stanley," Hosmer began her career in Buffalo doing
ballet at the age of . At the age of , under the tutelage of actor
Barton Hill, she gained her first speaking role at the Metropolitan
Theatre and was soon promoted to member of the theater's stock
company. In , while a leading actress, the young Hosmer was noticed by
McVicker's Theater in Chicago and was recruited by the playhouse for
its company. She performed with the company there under the name "Miss
Jean Stanley" for two years supporting the Booth brothers.
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