John Genest (1764–1839) was an English clergyman and theatre historian.

Life

He was the son of John Genest of Dunker's Hill,

Devon Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...

. He was educated at

Westminster School Westminster School is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Westminster, London, England, in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. It descends from a charity school founded by Westminster Benedictines before the Norman Conquest, as do ...

, entered 9 May 1780 as a pensioner at

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any ...

, and graduated B.A. 1784 and M.A. 1787. He took holy orders, and was for many years curate of a

Lincolnshire Lincolnshire (), abbreviated ''Lincs'', is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber regions of England. It is bordered by the East Riding of Yorkshire across the Humber estuary to th ...

village. Subsequently, he became private chaplain to the Duke of Ancaster. Compelled by ill-health to retire, he went to

Bath, Somerset Bath (Received Pronunciation, RP: , ) is a city in Somerset, England, known for and named after its Roman Baths (Bath), Roman-built baths. At the 2021 census, the population was 94,092. Bath is in the valley of the River Avon, Bristol, River A ...

for the benefit of the waters. Here he appears to have remained until his death, which took place, after nine years of illness, at his residence in Henry Street, 15 December 1839. He was buried in St. James's Church.

Works

During his times in Bath he wrote ''Some Account of the English Stage from the Restoration in 1660 to 1830'', Bath, 10 vols. 1832. It is accurate and well-researched.

References

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Genest, John 1764 births 1839 deaths 18th-century English Anglican priests 19th-century English Anglican priests Historians of theatre