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Fred French
1 of 2 portraits of Fred French
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Fred French
by Alfred Concanen, published by Charles Sheard
chromolithograph, 1860s
13 7/8 in. x 9 7/8 in. (352 mm x 251 mm) paper size
Given by John Hall, 1972
Reference Collection
NPG D42795
Artistsback to top
- Alfred Concanen (1835-1886), Lithographer. Artist or producer associated with 16 portraits.
- Charles Sheard (born 1826), Publisher. Artist or producer associated with 18 portraits.
Events of 1860back to top
Current affairs
An early feminist movement, The Society for Promoting the Employment of Women is founded by Adelaide Anne Proctor, Emily Faithfull, Helen Blackburn, Bessie Parks, Emily Davies, Barbara Bodichon, and Jessie Boucherett.The Florence Nightingale Training School for Nurses opens at St Thomas's Hospital, in London, funded from the testimonial fund collected for Nightingale following her war services, and helping to establish nursing as a profession.
Art and science
William Morris and new wife Jane Burden move into the Red House, near Bexleyheath, Kent. The house, designed by Philip Webb, represents Morris's principle in interior design, that no object should be in a house that is not beautiful.Ford Madox Brown paints The Last of England, showing a boat of emigrants leaving England under desperate circumstances, inspired by the emigration of the Pre-Raphaelite Thomas Woolner to Australia in 1852.
International
Italian unification continues as the Treaty of Turin brings much of Northern Italy under nationalist leader Cavour's control, who cedes Savoy and Nice to France. Garibaldi siezes the opportunity to invade Marsala in Sicily with his army of 1,000 redshirts, proclaiming himself dictator in the name of Victor Emmanuel II.Republican Abraham Lincoln becomes President of the US, with only 39% of the popular vote.
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John Culme
04 February 2020, 08:08
'Mincmeat,' sung by Fred French, published by Charles Sheard, 102 [sic] High Holborn was published in late 1865 or early 1866.
Cambridge music hall, London, December 1865
'. . . Miss Jenny Stanley has long been known in the Music Hall profession, and from the popularity she has attained it hardly forms a matter for wonder that others should put forward the name she has so long been known by. Mr. [Edward] Marshall, with his burlesque Pantomime, ''The Enchanted Hash,'' has become a great favourite at the Cambridge, and the remainder of the comic company is made up from Albert Steele, Miss Lydia Latimer, and Fred. French. The latter reappeared on Monday evening last, after a six nights' starring engagement at the new Alexandra Hall, Manchester, and he must have been rather impressed with the flattering reception accorded to him by his old admirers. As we have before stated, there is no better Music Hall comedian in the Metropolis, and his songs are so far in advance of those of the majority of his class that their popularity is easily accounted for. ''The Mincemeat Knife'' and ''Jimmy Riddle'' are among his latest effusions, and the choruses attached to those are of so taking a character that they are certain to be heard soon out of doors. . . .' (The Era, London, Sunday, 10 December 1865, p. 10c)
'NEW COMIC SONGS of the Great Comic Singers, superbly illustrated in colours, 3s. each. Bamboozle'em! the greatest comic hit ever published, and sung by all the comic singers. The Dancing Swell, West End Girls, Curly Headed Butcher, Pride of Pimlico, and Would You if You were Me (sung by Harry Liston); I always was a Swell, The Mouse Trap Man, My Wife has joined the Mormons, and The Six-foot Guardsman (sung by [George] Leybourne); Betty Bangle, (sung by [J.H.] Stead the Cure); Tin! Tin! or Sir Frederic Funny Vane (sung by the Jolly [John] Nash); Her Mincemeat Knife went Chop! Chop! Chop! (sung by Fred. French); Cock-a-doodle-doo, the song of the Jolly Cocks (sung by Arthur Lloyd). Either song post free for 18 stamps. - London: C. Sheard, 192 [sic], High Holborn.' (The Standard, London, Saturday, 13 January 1866, p. 8d)
Please note: careful comparison with other reference to Charles Sheard's establishment confirms that it was at 192 High Holborn. The address 102 High Holborn printed on this music sheet is a misprint.