{{short description|19th-century English actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Use British English|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox person |name= |image= |image_size= |caption= |birth_date= {{Birth date|df=yes|1822|12|22}} |birth_place= Wisbech, Isle of Ely, England |death_date= |death_place= |occupation= Actor |years_active= 1827 to c1830 |father= John Herbert |spouse= }} '''Master Herbert''' (born 1822) was an English child actor.
'Master Herbert' also known as the 'Infant Roscius' Henry Herbert (1822-?) born 22 December, in Wisbech, the son of John Herbert (a member of Wisbech Harmonic Society). He was taken to the theatre at the age of two.
The family moved to London, where he watched Edmund Kean perform. The family relocated to Reading, where he saw another juvenile Roscius, Master Grossmith perform. George Dibdin Pitt of the Surrey theatre wrote a suitable piece ''Peter Proteus; or How to gain five thousand pounds'' for the young actor. His first performance was at Watford. He performed at Reading reciting a comic piece in ''The Star Struck Sailor'' and the song 'Barney Brannigan'.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reading|newspaper=Berkshire Chronicle|date=4 April 1829|page=1}}</ref> He also returned to Wisbech to perform at what is now the Angles Theatre in 1829.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2AwOAAAAQAAJ&q=the+infant+roscius+hebert+henry&pg=PA3|title=A biographical account of the infant Roscius|last=Cole|first=John |date=1830|website=The biography of Herbert Henry|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=29 November 2019}}</ref> From Wisbech he was to perform at the George and Star Inn, Whittlesey on 1 September and then Peterborough, Thorney, March, Long Sutton and Holbeach.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Infant Roscius|newspaper=Stamford Mercury|date=28 August 1829|page=3}}</ref> In December 1829 he appeared at Norwich for three nights and at Holkham Hall before going to Aylsham.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Infant Roscius|newspaper=Norfolk Chronicle|date=5 December 1829|page=3}}</ref> In 1830 he performed in Beverley, Bridlington, York, Scarborough, Knareborough, Richmond, Pontefract and at Leeds in December.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Infant Prodigy|newspaper=Leeds Intelligencer|date=16 December 1830|page=2}}</ref> In April 1831 he performed ''Peter Proteus!'' At the Royal Pavilion Theatre.<ref>{{cite news|title=Royal Pavilion Theatre|newspaper=Morning Advertiser|date=21 April 1831|page=2}}</ref> He performed as Briefwit in ''The Weathercock'' at Chelmsford theatre on 23 August 1833.<ref>{{cite news|title=Theatre, Chelmsford|newspaper=Essex Herald|date=20 August 1833|page=3}}</ref> In December he appeared at Huntingdon and received much applause.<ref>{{cite news|title=Huntingdon|newspaper=Cambridge Chronicle|date=13 December 1833|page=3}}</ref> A return visit was made to Wisbech during the Mart before moving to neighbouring towns.<ref>{{cite news|title=Isle of Ely|newspaper=Huntingdon, Bedford & Perteborough Gazette |date=8 March 1834|page=2}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Herbert, Henry}} Category:1822 births Category:19th-century English male actors Category:English male stage actors Category:Male actors from London
== Further reading == *{{cite book|title=Treading the Boards|first=Neil R|last=Wright|publisher=Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology|year=2016}} Category:English male child actors Category:People from Wisbech Category:Year of death missing