# Master Herbert

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{{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](/source/Wisbech), [Isle of Ely](/source/Isle_of_Ely), England
|death_date= 
|death_place=
|occupation= [Actor](/source/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](/source/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](/source/London), where he watched [Edmund Kean](/source/Edmund_Kean) perform. The family relocated to [Reading](/source/Reading%2C_Berkshire), where he saw another juvenile Roscius, [Master Grossmith](/source/Master_Grossmith) perform. [George Dibdin Pitt](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Peterborough), [Thorney](/source/Thorney%2C_Cambridgeshire), [March](/source/March%2C_Cambridgeshire), [Long Sutton](/source/Long_Sutton%2C_Lincolnshire) and [Holbeach](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Master Herbert](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Herbert) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_Herbert?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.