G. H. MacDermott
Gilbert Hastings MacDermott (born John Farrell; 27 February 1845 – 8 May 1901) was an English comic singer or lion comique, who was one of the biggest stars of the Victorian English music hall. He performed under the name of The Great MacDermott, and was well known for his rousing rendition of the song known from its chorus as "By Jingo!".
Biography
MacDermott was born in
He started performing in music halls in 1874, with the song "If Ever There Was a Damned Scamp", but had his greatest success in 1878 with the song "By Jingo", also known as "Macdermott's War Song". The song was written at the time of the
MacDermott also performed other songs, including "True Blues, Stand By Your Guns", and "Charlie Dilke Upset the Milk", about the notorious Dilke divorce case of 1885.[1] In about 1883 he started living in Lambeth with a young actress, Annie Milburn, daughter of actor James Hartley Milburn, and had another four children, all of whom adopted his stage name of MacDermott.
He later became a successful theatrical agent and managed several famous music halls. He died in 1901 from cancer at the age of 56.[2]
His youngest child, Annie Louise Mary MacDermott, later became a stage star by the name of Ouida MacDermott. In an obituary on 9 May 1901, The Daily Telegraph called G. H. MacDermott the last lion comique, artists whose stage appearance resplendent in evening dress contrasted with the cloth cap image of most of their music hall contemporaries. The MacDermott family grave is at West Norwood Cemetery. Ouida is buried in the Roman Catholic Churchyard at Old Hall Green, Hertfordshire.
References
Notes
- ^ ISBN 0 236 40053 3.
- ^ a b "By Jingo, or, The Great McDermott", London Overlooked, 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2023
- ISBN 9-780719-052613, p.147
- ^ Jackson 1998, p. 332
Bibliography
- Jackson, Russell (1998), Victorian Theatre: The Theatre in Its Time, New Amsterdam Books, ISBN 978-0-941533-72-0
- Parker, John (1912). . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography (2nd supplement). Vol. 2. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
External links
- A photograph of MacDermott. Last retrieved 18 March 2012.
- The Mystery of Edwin Drood, including a description of MacDermott's famous version (Britannia Theatre, 22 July 1872). Last retrieved 5 January 2012.
- Photograph of his daughter Ouida MacDermott. Last retrieved 5 January 2012.
- The complete lyrics of the "Jingo War Song" with the tune in midi and mp3. Last retrieved 5 January 2012.
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