Biographical Note
William Henry Chippendale was born in Somers Town, London, on August 14, 1801. He was raised in Edinburgh, and his father trained him in acting from a young age. In 1819, after briefly studying to be a printer, Chippendale turned to the stage and made his first professional appearance, playing David in The Rivals at the Montrose Theatre in Scotland. Between 1826 and 1836, he toured the provinces of Scotland as part of a theatrical company directed by a Mr. Alexander. Chippendale traveled to New York in August 1836 at the invitation of Stephen Price, manager of the Park Theater, and made his debut on September 1 as Sir Mark Chase in A Roland for Oliver. Between 1837 and 1853, Chippendale frequently performed in New York City at the Park Theater, Niblo’s Garden, Mitchell’s Olympic Theater, Palmo’s Opera House, Brougham’s Lyceum, and Castle Garden. He also directed a dramatic company at Niblo’s Garden between 1840 and 1842, and managed the theater from 1849 to 1850.
Although Chippendale’s career took place primarily in New York, he also toured widely in the United States. He performed in Boston and Pittsburgh several times. Between 1845 and 1848, he acted in Noah Ludlow and Solomon (Sol) Smith’s theatrical company, appearing in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, and was their stage manager in 1850. It is likely that Smith arranged for Chippendale to tour with an English dramatic company around this time, an event supported by markings in the Chippendale Company Play Scripts. In 1851, Chippendale performed at the New Varieties’ Theater in St. Louis, Missouri, under the management of J. M. Field, and directed the play Fair One with the Golden Locks the following year.
In 1853, Chippendale returned to London where he appeared at the Haymarket Theatre as St. Anthony Absolute in The Rivals. He stayed at the theater for the next fifteen years, starring in both dramatic and comedic roles and frequently working as stage manager. On February 24, 1878, Chippendale made his last theatrical appearance in London at the Lyceum, staring as Polonius in Hamlet. In August, he formed the Chippendale Comedy Company and toured Scotland. Chippendale performed on stage for the last time at the Royal Theatre in Glasgow the following year. He died on January 5, 1888, in London.
Chippendale married three times and had 26 children. His third wife, Mary Jane Seaman (married 1866), was an actress in Henry Irving’s company, performing in both the United States and England.