Mr Moody and Mr Packer in the farce of the Register Office Saunders

John Hayman Packer (12 March 1730 – 16 September 1806) was an actor for

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1716 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, Actor-manager, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil a ...

's company at

Drury Lane Drury Lane is a street on the boundary between the Covent Garden and Holborn areas of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of London Borough of Camden, Camden and the southern part in the City o ...

. Originally a saddler, he created the character Freeman in

James Townley Rev. James Townley (6 May 1714 – 15 July 1778) was an English dramatist, the second son of Charles Townley, a merchant. Early life, education and marriage Townley was born in 1714 probably at Tower Hill, London, the second son of Charles To ...

's ''

High Life Below Stairs ''High Life Below Stairs'' is a 1759 comedy play by the British writer James Townley.Worrall p. 30 An afterpiece, it premiered at Drury Lane on a double bill with a revival of Dryden's ''The Mourning Bride''. A popular hit, it was frequently revi ...

'' (

1759 In Great Britain, this year was known as the ''Annus Mirabilis'', because of British victories in the Seven Years' War. Events January–March * January 6 – George Washington marries Martha Dandridge Custis. * January 11 & ...

). His parts were usually minor and, late in life, "as a rule"Hughes 2008. old men in tragedies and sentimental comedies.

Selected roles

* Freeman in ''

'' by

(1759) * Lucius in '' The Siege of Aquileia'' by

John Home Rev John Home (2 September 1722 – 4 September 1808) was a Scottish minister, soldier and author. His play '' Douglas'' was a standard Scottish school text until the Second World War, but his work is now largely neglected. In 1783, he was ...

(1760) * Young Bellmont in ''

All in the Wrong ''All in the Wrong'' is a 1761 comedy play by the Irish writer Arthur Murphy. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London, the under the management of David Garrick, on 15 June 1761.Nicoll p.290 The original cast included Richard Yat ...

'' by Arthur Murphy (1761) * Don Roderigo in ''

Elvira Elvira is a female given name. It is believed to have first been recorded in medieval Spain, while other sources claim that it is likely of Germanic ( Gothic) origin. In the Balkans, Elvira is popular among Bosniaks, Croats, and Slovenes in the ...

'' by David Mallet (1763) *Wellford in '' The Dupe'' by

Frances Sheridan Frances Sheridan (''née'' Chamberlaine; 1724 – 26 September 1766) was an Anglo-Irish novelist and playwright. Life Frances Chamberlaine was born in Dublin, Ireland. Her father, Dr. Phillip Chamberlaine, was an Anglican minister. In 1747 s ...

(1763) * Sir John Lambert in ''

The Hypocrite ''The Hypocrite'' is a 1768 comic play by the Irish writer Isaac Bickerstaffe. It is a reworking of the 1717 play ''The Non-Juror'' by Colley Cibber, itself inspired by Molière's ''Tartuffe''. The original play had derived much of its humour f ...

'' by

Isaac Bickerstaffe Isaac Bickerstaffe or Bickerstaff (26 September 1733 – after 1808) was an Irish playwright and librettist. Early life Isaac John Bickerstaff was born in Dublin, on 26 September 1733, where his father John Bickerstaff held a government pos ...

(1768) * Aunac in ''

Zingis ''Zingis'' is a genus of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Urocyclidae Urocyclidae is a family (biology), family of air-breathing land snails, semi-slugs and land slugs, terrestrial molluscs, ...

'' by

Alexander Dow Alexander Dow (1735 or 1736 – 31 July 1779) was a Scottish Orientalist, writer, playwright and army officer in the East India Company. Life He was a native of Crieff, Perthshire. Alexander Dow's father worked at the Customs at Dunbar. The yo ...

(1768) * Zopiron in ''

Zenobia Septimia Zenobia (Greek: Ζηνοβία, Palmyrene Aramaic: , ; 240 – c. 274) was a third-century queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria. Many legends surround her ancestry; she was probably not a commoner, and she married the ruler of the ...

'' by Arthur Murphy (1768) * Captain Dudley in ''

The West Indian ''The West Indian'' is a play by Richard Cumberland first staged at the Drury Lane Theatre in 1771. A comedy, it depicts Belcour, a West Indian plantation owner, travelling to Britain. Belcour tries to overcome his father's lingering disapprov ...

'' by

Richard Cumberland Richard Cumberland may refer to: * Richard Cumberland (philosopher) Richard Cumberland (15 July 1631 (or 1632) – 9 October 1718) was an English philosopher, and Bishop of Peterborough from 1691. In 1672, he published his major work, ''De leg ...

(1771) * Greek Herald in ''

The Grecian Daughter ''The Grecian Daughter'' is a 1772 tragedy by the Irish writer Arthur Murphy. It was widely performed for nearly sixty years, through the 1830s. For many British actresses in the eighteenth century, playing the role of the central heroine, Euph ...

'' by Arthur Murphy (1772) * Doctor Goodman in '' The Maid of Kent'' by

Francis Godolphin Waldron Francis Godolphin Waldron (1744–1818) was an English writer and actor, known also as an editor and bookseller. Life Waldron became a member of David Garrick's company at Drury Lane, and is heard of on 21 October 1769, when he played a part i ...

(1773) * Otanes in ''

Sethona ''Sethona'' is a 1774 tragedy by the British writer Alexander Dow. It is set in Ancient Egypt at a time when Menes is heir to the crown. The original Drury Lane cast included Spranger Barry as Serapis, Samuel Reddish as Menes, Francis Aickin ...

'' by

(1774) * Stalpleton in ''

The Choleric Man ''The Choleric Man'' is a 1774 comedy play by the British author Richard Cumberland. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 10 December 1774. The original cast included Thomas King as Andrew Nightshade, James Aickin as Manlove ...

'' by

(1774) * Ramirez in '' Braganza'' by

Robert Jephson Robert Jephson (1736 – 31 May 1803) was an Irish dramatist and politician. Life He was born in Ireland, a younger son of John Jephson, Archdeacon of Cloyne. He entered Trinity College, Dublin in 1751, but left without a degree. He then jo ...

(1775) * Rinaldo in '' The Law of Lombardy'' by

(1779) * Ali in ''

The Fair Circassian ''The Fair Circassian'' is a 1781 tragedy by the British writer Samuel Jackson Pratt. It is an adaptation of the novel '' Almoran and Hamet'' by John Hawkesworth. He wrote the lead role for his friend Sarah Siddons, but due to other commitmen ...

'' by

Samuel Jackson Pratt Samuel Jackson Pratt (25 December 1749 – 4 October 1814) was a prolific English poet, dramatist and novelist, writing under the pseudonym of "Courtney Melmoth" as well as under his own name. He authored around 40 publications between 1770 a ...

(1781) * Thestor in '' The Royal Suppliants'' by

John Delap John Delap (1725–1812) was an English churchman and academic, known as a poet and dramatist. Life The son of John Delap, of Spilsby in Lincolnshire, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, but migrated to Magdalene College, and was admitted pen ...

(1781) * Marlow in ''

The Metamorphosis ''The Metamorphosis'' (), also translated as ''The Transformation'', is a novella by Franz Kafka published in 1915. One of Kafka's best-known works, ''The Metamorphosis'' tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes to find himself inex ...

'' by William Jackson (1783) * Gyfford in ''

The Carmelite ''The Carmelite'' is a 1784 tragedy by the British writer Richard Cumberland. It was first staged at the Drury Lane Theatre on 2 December 1784. The play's hero Saint-Valori disguises himself as a Carmelite. The original cast included Sarah Siddo ...

'' by

(1784) * Duke of Genoa in ''

Julia Julia may refer to: People *Julia (given name), including a list of people with the name *Julia (surname), including a list of people with the name *Julia gens, a patrician family of Ancient Rome *Julia (clairvoyant) (fl. 1689), lady's maid of Qu ...

'' by

(1787) * Medley in '' The New Peerage'' by Harriet Lee (1787) * Gerbin in '' The Regent'' by

Bertie Greatheed Bertie Greatheed (1759–1826) was an English dramatist, slave owner and landowner. Life Greatheed was born on 19 October 1759, the son of the MP Samuel Greatheed of Guy's Cliffe, near Warwick, and his wife Lady Mary Bertie, daughter of Peregrin ...

(1788) * Davison in ''

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...

'' by

John St John John St. John may refer to: Politicians * John St. John (MP for Northamptonshire) (aft.1360–1424), MP for Northamptonshire in 1410, 1411, 1416, and 1421 * John St. John (MP for Bedfordshire) (bef. 1495–1558), MP for Bedfordshire, 1539, 1542 * J ...

(1789) * Archon in '' The Rival Sisters'' by Arthur Murphy (1793) * Millden in ''

The Wedding Day Wedding Day may refer to: *Wedding Other arts and media *''Rebecca's Wedding Day'', a 1914 American short comedy film starring Fatty Arbuckle *''Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day'', a 1941 drama film directed by Harold S. Bucquet * Wedding Day (film), ' ...

'' by

Elizabeth Inchbald Elizabeth Inchbald (née Simpson, 15 October 1753 – 1 August 1821) was an English novelist, actress, dramatist, and translator. Her two novels, '' A Simple Story'' and '' Nature and Art'', have received particular critical attention. Life B ...

(1794) * Leofric in ''

Edwy and Elgiva ''Edwy and Elgiva'' is a historical play, historical tragedy by the English writer Fanny Burney. Written in 1790 it was first performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 21 March 1795. The original cast included John Philip Kemble as E ...

'' by

Fanny Burney Frances Burney (13 June 1752 – 6 January 1840), also known as Fanny Burney and later Madame d'Arblay, was an English satirical novelist, diarist and playwright. In 1786–1790 she held the post of "Keeper of the Robes" to Charlotte of Mecklen ...

(1795) * David Duncan in '' The Last of the Family'' by

(1797) * Allan in The Castle Spectre by

Matthew Gregory Lewis Matthew Gregory Lewis (9 July 1775 – 16 May 1818) was an English novelist and dramatist, whose writings are often classified as "Gothic horror". He was frequently referred to as "Monk" Lewis, because of the success of his 1796 Gothic novel ' ...

(1797) * Old Copsley in '' The Will'' by Frederick Reynolds (1797) * Blaise in ''

The Castle of Montval ''The Castle of Montval'' is a tragedy by the British writer Thomas Sedgwick Whalley. It was first published in 1781, but was not staged in London's West End until 23 April 1799 when it appeared at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane where it succeeded ...

'' by

Thomas Sedgwick Whalley Thomas Sedgwick Whalley (1746–1828) was an English cleric, poet and traveller. Life Born in Cambridge, he was the third son of John Whalley (theologian), John Whalley, Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, who married the only child of Francis Squ ...

(1799) * Prior in '' Julian and Agnes'' by

William Sotheby William Sotheby FRS (9 November 175730 December 1833) was an English poet and translator. He was born into a wealthy London family, the son of Col. William and Elizabeth (née Sloan) Sotheby, and was educated at Harrow School and the Military A ...

(1801)

References

*Hughes, Alan. "Packer, John Hayman." ''

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from History of the British Isles, British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') ...

''. 22 October 2008

(accessed 22 October 2008; subscriiption required).
''The Literary panorama''

Notes

1730 births 1806 deaths English male stage actors 18th-century English male actors 19th-century English male actors 18th-century British male actors {{UK-stage-actor-stub