Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/61

Fisher management, as Victor in the 'Lancers, or the Gentleman's Son,' an adaptation of 'Le Fils de Famille' of Bayard. During six years he played at this house in various novelties and revivals, including a trifling production from his own pen entitled 'Music hath Charms' (June 1858). In 1859 he joined the Adelphi under B. Webster's management,where he was the original Abbé Latour in the 'Dead Heart' of Watts Phillips. In 1863 he gave, at the Hanover Square Rooms and at St. James's Hall, an entertainment called 'Facts and Fancies,' and in the autumn of the same year rejoined the Princess's, then under Yining's management. In 1865 he played, at the Haymarket, Orpheus in Blanche's 'Orpheus in the Haymarket.' In 1866-8 he was at Liverpool as stage-manager for Mr. H. J. Byron, playing at the Amphitheatre and Alexandra theatre. When the Globe Theatre, London, opened, 28 Nov. 1868, he was the first Major Treherne in Byron's 'Cyril's Success.' He appeared in succession at Drury Lane, the Olympic, the Globe, the Opera Comique, the Criterion, the Mirror (Holborn) Theatre, now destroyed, and the Princess's, playing in pieces by H. J. Byron, Mr. Boucicault, and other writers. His last appearance in London was at the Lyceum in 1884, as Sir Toby Belch. After that period he played in the country. He died in St. Augustine's Road, Camden Town, on 4 Oct. 1887, and was buried at Highgate cemetery. The 'Era' says that not a single actor attended his funeral. Fisher was below the middle height, a stiff-built man, who tried to conceal his lameness by a dancing-master elegance. Concerning his Abbé Latour, John Oxenford said in the 'Times' that 'he came to the Adelphi a second-rate eccentric comedian, and showed himself an able supporter of the serious drama.' He left a son on the stage, who perpetuated the name of David Fisher borne by at least four generations of actors.

[Pascoe's Dramatic List, 1879; The Players, 1860; Cole's Life and Times of Charles Kean; Era newspaper, 8 and 15 Oct.; personal recollections.]

 FISHER, EDWARD (fl. 1627–1655), theological writer, was the eldest son of Sir Edward Fisher, knight, of Mickleton, Gloucestershire. In 1627 he entered as a gentleman commoner at Brasenose College, Oxford, and graduated B.A. on 10 April 1630. He was noted for his knowledge of ecclesiastical history and his skill in ancient languages. He was a royalist, and a strong upholder of the festivals of the church against the puritans. He based the obligation of the Lord's day purely on ecclesiastical authority, declining to consider it a sabbath. He succeeded to his father's estate in 1654, but finding it much encumbered he sold it in 1656 to Richard Graves. Getting into debt he retired to Carmarthen and taught a school, but his creditors found him out, and he fled to Ireland. Here he died, at what date is not known. His body was brought to London for burial. He was married, but his wife died before him. The only publications which can be safely identified as his are: 1. 'The Scriptures Harmony ... by E. F., Esq.,' &c., 1643, 4to (a tract somewhat on the lines of Hugh Broughton's 'Concent of Scripture,' 1588). 2. 'An Appeale to thy Conscience,' &c., without place, 'printed in the 19th yeare of our gracious lord King Charles,' &c. (British Museum copy dated 20 April 1643; it is quite anonymous, but easily identified as Fisher's). 3. 'The Feast of Feasts, or the Celebration of the Sacred Nativity,' &c., Oxf. 1644, 4to (quite anonymous, but identified as Fisher's by the Bodleian Catalogue, and in his style). 4. 'A Christian Caveat to the old and new Sabbatarians, or a Vindication of our Gospel Festivals. . . By a Lover of Truth; a Defender of Christian Liberty; and an hearty Desirer of Peace, internall, externall, eternall to all men,' &c., 1649 (i.e. 1650), 4to; 4th edit. 1652, 4to, 'By Edward Fisher, Esq.,' has appended 'An Answer to Sixteen Queries touching the. . . observation of Christmass, propounded by Joseph Hemming of Uttoxeter ' (reprinted 'Somers Tracts,' 1748, vol. iv.); 5th edit. 1653, 4to; another edit. 1655, 4to, has appended 'Questions preparatory to the more Christian Administration of the Lord's Supper ... by E. F., Esq.' The 'Caveat,' which reckons Christmas day and Good Friday as of equal authority with the Lord's day, was attacked by John Collinges, D.D. [q. v.], and by Giles Collier [q. v.] Parts of the 'Caveat' were reprinted by the Seventh Day Baptists of America, in 'Tracts on the Sabbath,' New York, 1853, 18mo.

In Tanner's edition of Wood's 'Athenae,' 1721, Fisher is identified with E. F., the author of the 'Marrow of Modern Divinity ' [see, the elder]; and the identification has been accepted by Bliss, Hill Burton, and others. It is doubted by Grub, and internal evidence completely disproves it. The author of the 'Marrow' has been described as 'an illiterate barber,' but nothing seems known of him except that in his dedication to John Warner, the lord mayor, he speaks of himself as a 'poore inhabitant' of London. The following publications, all cast into the form of dialogue, and bearing the imprimatur of puritan 