Florence Fanny Irving

Sir Henry Irving (6 February 1838 – 13 October 1905), born John Henry Brodribb, sometimes known as J.H Irving.

He married Florence O'Callaghan on 15 July 1869 at St. Marylebone, London, but his personal life took second place to his professional life. On opening night of The Bells, 25 November 1871, Florence, who was pregnant with their second child, criticised his profession: "Are you going on making a fool of yourself like this all your life?" Irving exited their carriage at Hyde Park Corner, walked off into the night, and chose never to see her again. He maintained a discreet distance from his children as well, but became closer to them as they grew older.

GEDCOM Note

Irving’s love life seems confined to a romance with a girl who died young, and an unhappy marriage to Florence O’Callaghan, a sour-tempered young woman who came to despise the theatre. They separated on the opening night of The Bells (‘Are you going on making a fool of yourself like this all your life?’) and never spoke again. Their two sons, H.B. and Laurence, were brought up by Florence with a jaundiced view of their father, though as adults they came to enjoy a close and affectionate relationship with the Antique, as they called him. Both became charismatic actors, Laurence even writing two plays for Irving.