OBITUARY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 843, 15 June 1910, Page 5

OBITUARY.

HERMANN VBZIN,'ACTOR. ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. London, June 13. The death is announced of- Hermann Vezin, actor; aged 81. VEZIN'S CAREER. Hermann Vezin was born in Philadelphia on March 2, 1829, his father being Charles Henri" Vezin, merchant. His great-great-grandfather was Pierre do Vezin (born in 1054), who lost all his property, and had to fly for his life after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, because, although a Catholic himself, he was known to have' saved the lives of some Huguenots. Ho fled, to Hanover, where he obtained an engagement to play the viola in tho orchestra of the French Theatre, and there married the.daughter of the manager. Mane de Cateauneuf. They had ten children, - and one of their daughters married a de Lisle, and became tho grandmother of Rouget de I'lsle, who wrote "La, Marseillaise." Hermann Vezin graduated as an M.A. at Pennsylvania, and went to England in 1850, where he obtained an engagement at the Theatre Royal, York, that year. His advance in the profession .must have been rapid, as the next year he was playing such parts as Shylock, Richelieu, Young Norval, and Claud Melnotte. In 1852 ho appeared as Pembroke in "King John" in London, and was: personally congratulated by Charles Kean. Thereafter ho became known as ono of the best Shakespearean actors in tho kingdom, and appeared in all the old classical comedies, being the .original Dr. Primrose in "Olivia," Daniel Druco in Gilbert's play of that name, Sir Grey do Slalpas in "The Rightful Heir," and other famous parts. In 1863 ho married the famous actress,. Mrs. Charles Young. When the late Sir Henry Irving lost his voice oh a memorable occasion in 1889, Hermann Vezin was called on to fill the breach at the Lyceum, and so capably did ho perform that Irving presented him with a fine diamond ring and a cheque for ,£l2O. For twenty years past he has been a noted teacher of the dramatic art in London.