Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Harris, Augustus Glossop
HARRIS, AUGUSTUS GLOSSOP (1825–1873), actor and manager, was born at Portici, Naples, 12 June 1825. His mother was Mrs. Glossop, known on the operatic stage as Madame Feron. His father, Joseph Glossop, built the Coburg Theatre, now known as the Victoria, and was at various times manager of La Scala, Milan, and San Carlo in Naples. His first appearance on the stage was made in America, at about the age of eight, as a fairy coachman in the opera of ‘Cinderella.’ He played with Robson at the Bower Theatre in Stangate, and appeared as Snobbington Duprez in a farce at the Princess's Theatre, under the management of J. M. Maddox. After the retirement of Charles Kean from the Princess's Harris became the manager. He opened, 24 Sept. 1859, with Oxenford's adaptation ‘Ivy Hall.’ He introduced Charles Albert Fechter [q. v.] to London. His management closed 16 Oct. 1862. Harris is principally known as a manager of opera and ballet. He had an admirable eye for colour and great capacity for stage arrangement. With the stage and general management of Covent Garden he was connected, with only one break, for twenty-seven years, and he undertook the stage direction of opera in St. Petersburg, Madrid, Paris, Berlin, and Barcelona. During the last four years of his life he gave Christmas spectacles at Covent Garden. He died on 19 April 1873, at 2 Bedford Place, W.C., and was buried on the 25th at Brompton cemetery. He married, 17 Feb. 1846, Maria Ann Bone, who survived him. Two daughters, Ellen and Maria, and two sons, Augustus and Charles, have been connected with the stage. Augustus Harris the younger has been known for some years as the manager of Drury Lane Theatre, the Royal Italian Opera, Covent Garden, and other places.
[Era newspaper, 27 April 1873; private information.]