James Aickin (died 1803),[a] was an Irish stage actor who worked at
the Edinburgh Theatre in Scotland and in theatres in the West End of
London.He was the younger brother of the actor Francis Aickin (died
1803) with whom he shared the stage at the Edinburgh Theatre before he
gave offence to his public by his protest against the discharge of a
fellow-actor. He therefore went to London, and from 1767 to 1800 was a
member of the Drury Lane Company and for some years a deputy manager.
He quarrelled with John Philip Kemble, with whom, in 1792, he fought a
bloodless duel.James Aickin was the younger brother of actor Francis
Aickin, and like him brought up to be a weaver. After joining a
company strolling through Ireland, and gaining some experience of the
stage, he embarked for Scotland, and presently accepted an engagement
to appear at the Edinburgh Theatre. He was very favourably received,
and gradually, from his merit as an actor and his sensible deportment
in private life, became the head of the Canongate Company, playing
most of the leading parts in tragedy and comedy.In January 1767 a riot
took place in the Edinburgh Theatre because of the discharge by the
management of one Stanley, an actor of small merit, in whom, however,
a section of the public took extraordinary interest. The inside of the
building was demolished, the furniture ransacked, and the fixtures
destroyed. It was not until troops from Edinburgh Castle had come to
the relief of the city guard that the rioters were dispersed, and the
theatre saved from further injury.
the Edinburgh Theatre in Scotland and in theatres in the West End of
London.He was the younger brother of the actor Francis Aickin (died
1803) with whom he shared the stage at the Edinburgh Theatre before he
gave offence to his public by his protest against the discharge of a
fellow-actor. He therefore went to London, and from 1767 to 1800 was a
member of the Drury Lane Company and for some years a deputy manager.
He quarrelled with John Philip Kemble, with whom, in 1792, he fought a
bloodless duel.James Aickin was the younger brother of actor Francis
Aickin, and like him brought up to be a weaver. After joining a
company strolling through Ireland, and gaining some experience of the
stage, he embarked for Scotland, and presently accepted an engagement
to appear at the Edinburgh Theatre. He was very favourably received,
and gradually, from his merit as an actor and his sensible deportment
in private life, became the head of the Canongate Company, playing
most of the leading parts in tragedy and comedy.In January 1767 a riot
took place in the Edinburgh Theatre because of the discharge by the
management of one Stanley, an actor of small merit, in whom, however,
a section of the public took extraordinary interest. The inside of the
building was demolished, the furniture ransacked, and the fixtures
destroyed. It was not until troops from Edinburgh Castle had come to
the relief of the city guard that the rioters were dispersed, and the
theatre saved from further injury.
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