Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Glover, Edmund
GLOVER, EDMUND (1813?–1860), actor and manager, was the eldest son of Julia Glover [q. v.] He occupied for a time a leading position at the Haymarket Theatre, and went to Edinburgh, where, under Murray, he played leading business. He appears to have joined that company about 1841. He was a man of diversified talents, a sound, though not a brilliant actor, a good dancer, fencer, and pantomimist, and the possessor of some skill in painting. A high position was accordingly conceded him in Scotland. His salary in 1842 was three guineas weekly, the parts he played including Richelieu, Stukeley in the 'Gamester' to the Beverley of Edmund Kean, Rob Roy, Claude Melnotte, Creon in 'Antigone,' Jonas Chuzzlewit, John Peerybingle in the 'Cricket on the Hearth,' Othello, Macbeth, Richard III, Iago, Shylock, Cardinal Wolsey, Robert Macaire, and Don Cæsar de Bazan. On 16 Jan. 1848 he played Falkland in the 'Rivals,' being his first appearance after a recent severe accident. At this period he engaged Jenny Lind [q. v.] to sing in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Perth, and cleared 3,000l. by the transaction. Emboldened by this success he took a large hall in West Nile Street, Glasgow, which he opened as the Prince's Theatre. In 1852 he undertook the management of the Theatre Royal, Glasgow. He became lessee also of the Theatres Royal at Paisley and Dunfermline, and in 1859 opened a new theatre at Greenock. During this period his connection with Edinburgh was maintained. On 27 March 1850 he was Othello to Macready's Iago. He played Falkland at Murray's farewell benefit, 22 Oct. 1851. On 17 March 1856 he began to alternate with Powrie the parts of Macbeth and Macduff, on 24 Feb. 1857 played the brothers Dei Franchi to the Baron Giordine of Mr. Henry Irving, and on his last appearance at the Edinburgh Theatre Royal, 25 May 1859, was, at his own desire, Triplet in 'Masks and Faces.' He had been ill for some time, and died on 23 Oct. 1860 of dropsy, at 3 Gayfield Place, Edinburgh, in the house of Mr. Robert Wyndham, subsequently manager of the Theatre Royal in that city. His managerial career was successful, much taste being displayed by him in mounting pieces. He left behind him, in addition to other children, a son, William, who is said to inherit his father's talents as a painter, a second son, Samuel, a Scotch comedian, who died abroad, and a daughter who married Thomas Powrie, a Scotch tragedian.
[Dibdin's Annals of the Edinburgh Stage, 1888; Era Almanack; Era newspaper, 27 March 1860; private information.]