DE WALDEN, Thomas Blaides. b. London 1811; made his début on the stage at Haymarket theatre 1841; first appeared in America at Park theatre, New York 1844 as Belmour in Is he jealous?; engaged in mercantile pursuits 1857; a chaplain in volunteer army of United States during the civil war; author of The upper ten and the lower twenty played at Burton’s theatre, New York; The Seven Sisters; The Jesuit played at Bowery theatre, New York 1854; The Hypochondriac; wrote more than 100 plays. d. New York 26 Sep. 1873.
DEWAR, Frederick Charles (son of James Dewar 1793–1846, musical director of theatre royal, Edinburgh). Made his first appearance in London at St. James’s theatre 29 Oct. 1860 as Tunstall in Up at the hills; made his first success at same house as Dr. Bland in Friends or Foes the English version of Sardou’s Nos Intimes 8 March 1862; played Tom Stylus in Robertson’s comedy Society, at Prince of Wales’s theatre 11 Nov. 1865 to Sep. 1866; played Captain Crosstree in Burnand’s burlesque The latest edition of Black-eyed Susan, or the little Bill that was taken up, at New Royalty theatre 400 times from 29 Nov. 1866 to 20 March 1868; played Bishopriggs in Wilkie Collins’s drama Man and Wife, at Prince of Wales’s 22 Feb. 1873; played Angus McAlister in Gilbert’s comedy Engaged, at Haymarket 3 Oct. 1877 to 4 Jany. 1878. d. Chelsea workhouse, London 8 Jany. 1878 aged 46. bur. Brompton cemetery. The Universal Review 15 Oct. 1888 pp. 162, 169, 177, portrait; The Entr’ Acte 19 Jany. 1878 pp. 6, 9, portrait; The Era 13 Jany. 1878 pp. 6, 12.
DE WILDE, George James (son of Samuel De Wilde, portrait painter 1748–1832). b. London 1804 or 1805; contributed many articles to various periodicals; edited the Northampton Mercury 1830 to death; author of Rambles round about, and Poems, edited by E. Dicey 1872; his portrait by J. E. Williams was presented by his friends to the Northampton Museum 1871. d. The Parade, Northampton 16 Sep. 1871 in 67 year. bur. Highgate cemetery 22 Sep. Journal of British Archæol. Assoc. xxviii, 311 (1872); The Northampton Mercury 23 Sep. 1871 pp. 3, 5, 8.
DIAMOND, Hugh Welch (eld. son of Wm. Batchelor Diamond, surgeon H.E.I.Co.’s service). b. 1809; ed. at Norwich gr. sch.; studied at St. Bartholomew’s and Bethlehem hospitals; L.S.A. 1829; M.R.C.S. 1834; practised in Soho, London; resident superintendent of female patients at Surrey county lunatic asylum 1848–58; kept a private asylum for female patients at Twickenham 1858 to death; invented the paper or cardboard photographic portrait; sec. of London Photographic Soc. 1883, edited its Journal vols. 5–8 (1859–64); contributed papers to first series of Notes and Queries on photography; F.S.A. 15 May 1834. d. Twickenham house, Twickenham 21 June 1886.
DIAVOLO, Joel Il, otherwise known as Joel Benedict. Wire walker, pantomimist and ballet master; one of the original troupe of Bedouin Arabs at Surrey theatre 1839; created a great sensation under name of Joel il Diavolo at Vauxhall Gardens 1845 by descending a single wire stretched across the gardens from a platform 120 feet high to the ground at opposite end of the gardens; adopted stage name of Joel Benedict about 1850; acting manager to Charles Dillon several years from 1852 sustaining part of clown in his pantomimes; travelled with Charles Harrison’s company in the provinces 1862. d. 3 Feb. 1887. I.L.N. vi, 396 (1845), with view.
Note.—There were about half a dozen performers who successively bore the name of Joel il Diavolo at Vauxhall Gardens; the last one in 1849 was John Delany who had been a miner in the Dudley coal mines.
DIBB, John Edward. b. Beeston near Leeds 24 May 1812; deputy registrar of deeds and wills in West Riding of Yorkshire 1840 to death; barrister G.I. 1869; author of A practical guide to registration of deeds and wills in the West Riding of Yorkshire 1846; Registries of deeds, suggestions for the improvement of the Yorkshire offices 1851. d. Wakefield 17 Sep. 1872.
DIBDIN, Henry Edward (youngest son of Charles Isaac Mungo Pitt known as Charles Dibdin, dramatist 1768–1833). b. Sadler’s Wells, London 8 Sep. 1813; pupil of Bochsa the harpist; made his first appearance 3 Aug. 1832 at Covent Garden theatre when he played the harp at Paganini’s last concert; organist of Trinity chapel, Edinburgh 1833 to death; published The Standard Psalm tune book 1851, and about 40 songs, piano and harp pieces and hymn tunes. d. Edinburgh 6 May 1866.
DICEY, Thomas Edward (only son of Thomas Dicey of Claybrook hall, Leicestershire 1742–1807). b. Claybrook hall, Leics. 11 Oct. 1789; matric. at Oriel coll. Ox. 17 Oct. 1806; migrated to Trin. coll. Cam.; senior wrangler and first Smith’s prizeman 1811; B.A. 1811, M.A. 1814; chairman of Midland counties railway; a director of North Staffordshire railway from its foundation 1846 to his death; proprietor of Northampton Mercury. d. Princes terrace, Hyde park, London 20 Feb. 1858.
DICK, Alexander. Entered Bengal army 1803; col. 71 Bengal N.I. 8 Feb. 1843 to 1869; general 3 May 1866. d. Deyrah, North West provinces of India 25 Nov. 1875 aged 86.