John Wade Clinton

John Wade Clinton was born sometime (according to Census dates and age at death) between 1802 and 1811. John Wade or ‘Wade Clinton’ as he was often named in theatre reports of the time started his acting career at Gosport in 1827. The latter date was reported in ‘The Era’ of January 28 1872. John Wade Clinton was a provincial actor playing leading roles at many of the ‘Theatre Royal’s’. The following is a report from ‘The Era’ of 18^th Jume 1871:

The ERA 18 June 1871
To the Theatrical Profession
Mr WADE CLINTON
(FORMERLY LEADING ACTOR AT THE THEATRES ROYAL, NORWICH, CAMBRIDGE, LINCOLN, BRIGHTON & C)
In consequence of a partial deprivation of sight (resulting from a fit of apoplexy) is unable to any longer “to strut and fret his hours upon the stage”
respectfully announces that he intends publishing by subscription
a histrionic sketch in rhyme entitled

MAYBURY or THE PLAYER’S REST
Dedicated to J W ANSON Esq,
secretary of the Dramatic College & Treasurer of the Royal Adelphi

and most earnestly solicits the support not only of those who were with him when “in harness and eager for the fray”
but all lovers patrons of the Drama. Trusting that they will respond
to the wishes of an “old stager” that
“Like the Roman in the Capital
He may adjust his mantle ere he fall”
The subscription will be 2s 6d a copy.
Subscriptions received by the author at 14 John St, Smith Sq, Westminster SW
And by the publisher TH Lacy, Theatrical Bookseller, Strand, London
Subscribers will please to forward their address.

The poem mentioned above was finally titled as ‘Mabury or Musings Around the Royal Dramatic College’ (see Photo’s). The poem contains some 30 stanza’s and appears to be a reflection of his life as an actor.

John Wade’s interest in acting was mainly centre on Shakespeare. He describes his interest in Shakespeare in the following lines of the above poem:

In my schoolday’s I was as wild a youth,
As Pedagogue did ever flagellate.
But I was taught to love and honour truth,
And none at times so scholarly sedate.
Shakesperian worship, was my web of fate:
To gain a knowledge of the wonderous page
All idle moments I would dedicate
Thus was implanted at an early age
A passion for that telescope of mind – the stage.

I have no doubt that John must have influenced his daughters mentioned on this site – Mary Agnes Clinton (Marie Linden) and Laura Sophia Clinton (Laura Linden). Both had succesful careers as actresses though Laura died fairly young in 1906.

In 1851 John married Caroline Rogers an actress who also came from an acting family. They married at St James, Thorne, Wakefield.

John and Caroline continued to act together during their married life and reports suggest that they were great favourites.

When John retired from acting he was elected as a pensioner at The Royal Dramatic College near Mabury. The RDC was set up so that actors could retire in some comfort and was inaugarated by the Prince Regent of the times.

John Died on 24 May 1880 from an asthma attack and was buried in ‘Actors Acre’ at Brookwood Cemetary near Woking. His wife Caroline was buried with him later in 1892.