3-053-509 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The late Mr. E. Fitzball, 1873. Engraving from a photograph by Messrs. Lock and Whitfield. 'The well-known dramatist, Mr. Edward Fitzball, expired on Monday week, at his residence near Chatham, where he had dwelt for the last ten years. A native of the village of Burwell, in Cambridgeshire, he was born about the year 1793. Adding his mother's maiden name of Fitz to his original patronymic of Ball, he came to London, and began his career as a dramatic author with a melodrama called "Edda," which was produced at the Surrey Theatre, then under the management of Tom Dibdin. To this rapidly succeeded the "Innkeeper of Abbeville," "The Floating Beacon," "The Inchcape Bell," "The Flying Dutchman," "The Pilot," "Jonathan Bradford," and a number of other similar productions, which obtained great popularity at the minor theatres. For nearly all the early operas composed by Balfe Mr. Edward Fitzball furnished the libretto, and his popularity as a song-writer may be dated as far back as 1828, when his still favourite song of "My Pretty Jane," linked with Sir Henry Bishop's charming melody, was first sung at Vauxhall Gardens'. From "Illustrated London News", 1873.