435:
Most newspapers documenting the trial mention
Teasdale's over-dramatic performance on the stand, reporting that there was laughter in the court room when Teasdale said 'I determined to fire it off and cut my throat in the smoke'. In his own defense he made the following claims: 'Four months ago we were staying at Leeds. I have been married to her 26 years. I loved the ground she walked on and she hated me. While we were in Leeds she left home one Saturday morning. I went in search of her and for the first time I found she was getting her living on the streets, and she boasted that I had not found her out'. He was sentenced to two years hard labour in
417:
performance was a huge success and it was from here that he began touring the country, meeting with excited audiences. Many local newspapers praised his performance, one referring to him as 'the
Yorkshire Phenomenon!’ However, despite his many successes round the country, Teasdale never managed to make a name for himself in London, performing in the capital once to negative reviews: 'Mr Harvey Teasdale was very slow. He has much to learn before he can take his stand as clown in a leading London theatre'. He allegedly fought with the manager of
368:. He then moved to Netherthorpe Academy where, when he attended school, he showed early signs of having a theatrical personality: 'I used to amuse the scholars by leaping through hoops and over chairs like a monkey'. He was later sent to Fox's School, where his mischievous reign continued. He alludes to being very popular in the school after playing numerous pranks on his school master, such as knocking a needle through his chair. Once more he was taken out of school, this time being relocated to a boarding school in the nearby town of
63:
165:
22:
372:. Teasdale was a sprightly child who was 'very fond of running up spouts and getting on to roofs of buildings and running on the slates like a cat'. As a result, he was often involved in accidents and scrapes. Furthermore, he got into frequent fights with other boys in the town: 'I do not think at that time there was a lad in Sheffield... could stand any chance with me at fighting'.
452:. Once released from prison Teasdale moved back to Sheffield and joined the Hallelujah Band to spread the message of Methodism. However, his sincerity is questionable: in an attempt to rid himself of his former persona and the monkey that had become his alter-ego, Teasdale advertised that he would burn his effects, including his monkey costume, in Sheffield's Temperance Hall. The
380:
and his interest in acting was ignited. However, he still made time for mischief, like stealing fish at
Crookes Moor Dam: 'The fish that I had caught were in my hat on my head. When asked what I had done with the fish I said that I had caught none. The fish… at that moment jumped on my head and appeared to my guilty conscience to say "Harvey, what a liar you are"’.’ In 1832 the
364:, and during his childhood he moved around Sheffield with his family. He attended several different schools, but he 'seldom went' unless accompanied by his sister, preferring to play truant. He began his education at the Carver Street National School, but instead of attending classes preferred to make trips to the Wicker Bridge and swim in the water fully dressed to amuse the
379:
trade. However, on several occasions he claims to have shirked his errands. His family moved from
Sheffield to Walkley Hall and it was here that Teasdale declared 'it was prophesied by one of the Walkley Belles that Harvey would become an actor!’ He began attending plays at Sheffield's Theatre Royal
434:
and encouraging their daughters to do the same. He broke into her lodgings and fired a blank at her before attempting to cut her throat and his own. A neighbour intervened and alerted the authorities. Sarah survived the attack and was taken to hospital and
Teasdale was arrested and taken to court.
492:
is an unusual example of
Victorian life-writing, detailing the extraordinary life of a working class performer who described himself as 'Harvey Teasdale, the converted clown, and once the greatest impersonator of the man monkey in the world, now a sinner saved by grace, fighting the battle of the
397:
Harvey began performing in
Sheffield public houses and theatres in the early 1830s. He moved around the city taking rooms at different pubs, often playing the clown in performances. He alludes continuously to the vice and danger associated with the life of an actor: 'I shall not record the wicked
384:
epidemic swept
Sheffield and Teasdale was one of its victims. He claimed he was very ill, but nevertheless managed to survive. Soon after his recovery Teasdale and a friend named Charles Black decided they wanted to leave Sheffield and head to London, but with no transport they had barely reached
469:
and bought a donkey named
Charley, with whom he would travel around the moors searching for work and food. He suggests it was his faith which got him through this lean period. Yet, it is questionable whether he was sincerely struggling or painting himself as a martyr. He was later reunited with
405:
in a barrel drawn by ducks. He advertised his performance on flaming placards throughout
Sheffield and on the day approximately 70,000 people lined the streets to watch. As he sailed along the force of the crowd became so great part of the wall collapsed sending many spectators in to the water.
416:
Teasdale first played the 'man-monkey', his signature act, at Grantham Theatre in the mid 1840s. He drew in the crowds by jumping from balcony to stage dressed as a monkey. Teasdale was following in a tradition of Skin Performance: actors who impersonated and dressed like animals. His monkey
456:
reported that 'placards have been circulated within the town, stating that Harvey Teasdale, the well-known man monkey and clown, would relate his experiences and destroy his dresses and theatrical effects'. Yet a different newspaper documents him burning his effects in Leeds and the
478:
Teasdale died in 1904, aged 86. His obituary doesn't give a definite cause of death instead stating that 'for some time his brain had been affected'. He died in Firvale Workhouse Asylum, where he had been living for a fortnight. He is buried in the General Cemetery, Sheffield.
421:, London, and left, never to return to perform in the capital again. Yet in his memoir Teasdale speaks highly of his own talent and success: 'It was acknowledged, by undisputed authority, that mine was the best representation of the monkey that had ever appeared on stage'.
429:
In 1862 Teasdale's wife, Sarah, separated from him, taking their two daughters with her. Teasdale struggled to track them down and when he did begged them to return to him. After much chasing, Teasdale finally confronted Sarah, accusing her of earning a living as a
461:
suggests they were for sale: 'The whole of Harvey Teasdale's pantomimes, monkey pieces, manuscripts... to be sold for £2 10s'. In spite of his self-proclaimed conversion, there is evidence to suggest that Teasdale's former life-style did not allude him.
487:
Teasdale published the first edition of his autobiography in 1878. It went through several editions and by 1881 it had sold over 40,000 copies. Teasdale continued to sell his autobiography, alongside signed photographs of himself.
412:
described the stunt as foolish novelty: 'The clown (Teasdale) made a start with his tub and ducks... but they were completely unmanageable, and he rolled and rocked about with his short paddles until he got a good dousing'.
504:, based on Teasdale's life as part of Sheffield's Festival of the Mind. The production featured Vern Griffiths as Harvey Teadale, Jack Windle as the Chorus and Dr Butler's Hatstand Medicine Band as the Hallelujah Band.
318:
In 1862, Teasdale's wife, Sarah, separated from him, taking their two daughters with her. Teasdale discovered Sarah's whereabouts and attacked her with an empty pistol before a neighbour intervened. He was convicted of
447:
Teasdale was interned at Wakefield between 1862 and 1864. He claimed that whilst in prison he underwent a conversion and decided to leave behind his life of vice in the performing industry and preach the doctrines of
406:
Teasdale maintained that the cries of the people who had fallen 'might have appalled a stouter heart than mine'. Nobody was hurt, but many people 'cursed old Harvey and his ducks'. His attempt was a failure. The
330:
Teasdale came out of prison a 'converted clown', having become a devout Christian. He gave up the theatre and joined the Hallelujah Band in Sheffield. In 1878 he published his
375:
After another failed attempt at settling his son in to a school, Teasdale's father, Benjamin, decided to keep him at home to with the intention of training him for the
493:
cross!’ The autobiography has been noted for its highly dramatic tone, heavy use of Shakespearean and biblical quotations and the author's questionable sincerity.
639:
629:
538:
Teasdale, Harvey, The Life and Adventures of Harvey Teasdale, the Converted Clown and Man Monkey, with his remarkable conversion in Wakefield Prison, 1881
558:
Harvey Teasdale, The Life and Adventures of Harvey Teasdale, the Converted Clown and Man Monkey, with his remarkable conversion in Wakefield Prison, 1881
599:
496:
Over the past few years a renewed local interest in Teasdale has developed. Efforts are being made towards the reprinting of his memoir within the
361:
584:
594:
634:
490:
The Life and Adventures of Harvey Teasdale, the Converted Clown and Man Monkey, with his remarkable conversion in Wakefield Prison
336:
The Life and Adventures of Harvey Teasdale, the Converted Clown and Man Monkey, with his remarkable conversion in Wakefield Prison
589:
175:
233:
127:
205:
99:
517:
The Life and Adventures of Harvey Teasdale the Converted Clown and Man Monkey ... Written by Himself. Seventh Edition, Etc
624:
212:
106:
345:
in and around Sheffield. He was reunited with Sarah and lived with her until she died in 1883. He remarried in 1886.
259:
146:
49:
614:
604:
80:
35:
219:
113:
609:
190:
84:
201:
95:
644:
315:, Sheffield, in a barrel pulled by ducks. As well as performing, Teasdale managed several theatres.
418:
386:
619:
497:
73:
226:
120:
579:
574:
402:
312:
41:
8:
436:
186:
311:
with this act with much success. His most famous stunt was his attempt to sail down the
324:
320:
515:
307:
before cultivating a reputation for playing the 'man-monkey'. Teasdale toured the
281:
408:
308:
568:
500:. In September 2014, Point Blank Theatre Company premiered their production,
331:
304:
278:
431:
182:
365:
398:
scenes that were enacted in this room. I shall not lift the curtain'.
449:
369:
349:
342:
300:
288:
164:
62:
381:
376:
292:
284:
best known for his success as the 'man-monkey' stage character.
466:
401:
Teasdale's most famous stunt was his attempt to sail down the
296:
338:, and by 1881 he purported to have sold over 40,000 copies.
352:
Asylum and is buried in the General Cemetery, Sheffield.
87:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
566:
442:
424:
640:Prisoners and detainees of England and Wales
630:British people convicted of attempted murder
191:introducing citations to additional sources
482:
50:Learn how and when to remove these messages
502:Harvey Teasdale: the Sheffield Man Monkey
260:Learn how and when to remove this message
147:Learn how and when to remove this message
600:19th-century English non-fiction writers
513:
341:During his later life Teasdale preached
181:Relevant discussion may be found on the
470:Sarah, whom he converted to Methodism.
567:
554:
552:
550:
548:
546:
544:
295:. He performed several times as the
158:
85:adding citations to reliable sources
56:
15:
541:
13:
14:
656:
585:1862 crimes in the United Kingdom
348:Teasdale died in 1904 in Firvale
31:This article has multiple issues.
595:19th-century English male actors
465:Teasdale claims he then went to
174:relies largely or entirely on a
163:
61:
20:
635:English prisoners and detainees
507:
72:needs additional citations for
39:or discuss these issues on the
590:19th-century English criminals
532:
389:before they chose to give up.
1:
525:
355:
7:
10:
661:
443:Conversion and controversy
425:Attempted murder and trial
625:English male stage actors
454:Sheffield Daily Telegraph
483:Autobiography and legacy
473:
323:and served two years in
277:(1817–1904) was a
615:English autobiographers
605:19th-century Methodists
498:University of Sheffield
610:People from Sheffield
514:Teasdale, H. (1870).
419:Astley's Amphitheatre
360:Teasdale was born in
287:Teasdale was born in
187:improve this article
81:improve this article
645:English Methodists
270:
269:
262:
252:
251:
237:
202:"Harvey Teasdale"
157:
156:
149:
131:
96:"Harvey Teasdale"
54:
652:
559:
556:
539:
536:
521:
437:Wakefield Prison
325:Wakefield Prison
321:attempted murder
265:
258:
247:
244:
238:
236:
195:
167:
159:
152:
145:
141:
138:
132:
130:
89:
65:
57:
46:
24:
23:
16:
660:
659:
655:
654:
653:
651:
650:
649:
565:
564:
563:
562:
557:
542:
537:
533:
528:
510:
485:
476:
445:
427:
393:Performing Life
358:
291:to a family of
275:Harvey Teasdale
266:
255:
254:
253:
248:
242:
239:
196:
194:
180:
168:
153:
142:
136:
133:
90:
88:
78:
66:
25:
21:
12:
11:
5:
658:
648:
647:
642:
637:
632:
627:
622:
620:English clowns
617:
612:
607:
602:
597:
592:
587:
582:
577:
561:
560:
540:
530:
529:
527:
524:
523:
522:
509:
506:
484:
481:
475:
472:
444:
441:
426:
423:
409:Sheffield Iris
362:Sheffield Park
357:
354:
309:United Kingdom
268:
267:
250:
249:
185:. Please help
171:
169:
162:
155:
154:
137:September 2014
69:
67:
60:
55:
29:
28:
26:
19:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
657:
646:
643:
641:
638:
636:
633:
631:
628:
626:
623:
621:
618:
616:
613:
611:
608:
606:
603:
601:
598:
596:
593:
591:
588:
586:
583:
581:
578:
576:
573:
572:
570:
555:
553:
551:
549:
547:
545:
535:
531:
519:
518:
512:
511:
505:
503:
499:
494:
491:
480:
471:
468:
463:
460:
455:
451:
440:
438:
433:
422:
420:
414:
411:
410:
404:
399:
395:
394:
390:
388:
383:
378:
373:
371:
367:
363:
353:
351:
346:
344:
339:
337:
333:
332:autobiography
328:
327:(1862-1864).
326:
322:
316:
314:
310:
306:
305:harlequinades
302:
298:
294:
290:
285:
283:
280:
276:
272:
264:
261:
246:
243:December 2017
235:
232:
228:
225:
221:
218:
214:
211:
207:
204: –
203:
199:
198:Find sources:
192:
188:
184:
178:
177:
176:single source
172:This article
170:
166:
161:
160:
151:
148:
140:
129:
126:
122:
119:
115:
112:
108:
105:
101:
98: –
97:
93:
92:Find sources:
86:
82:
76:
75:
70:This article
68:
64:
59:
58:
53:
51:
44:
43:
38:
37:
32:
27:
18:
17:
534:
516:
508:Publications
501:
495:
489:
486:
477:
464:
458:
453:
446:
428:
415:
407:
400:
396:
392:
391:
387:Chesterfield
374:
359:
347:
340:
335:
329:
317:
286:
274:
273:
271:
256:
240:
230:
223:
216:
209:
197:
173:
143:
134:
124:
117:
110:
103:
91:
79:Please help
74:verification
71:
47:
40:
34:
33:Please help
30:
580:1904 deaths
575:1817 births
366:blacksmiths
569:Categories
526:References
432:prostitute
356:Early life
301:pantomimes
213:newspapers
107:newspapers
36:improve it
450:Methodism
403:River Don
370:Dronfield
350:Workhouse
343:Methodism
313:River Don
289:Sheffield
282:performer
279:Victorian
183:talk page
42:talk page
382:Cholera
377:cutlery
293:cutlers
227:scholar
121:scholar
467:Totley
229:
222:
215:
208:
200:
123:
116:
109:
102:
94:
474:Death
297:clown
234:JSTOR
220:books
128:JSTOR
114:books
303:and
206:news
100:news
459:Era
299:in
189:by
83:by
571::
543:^
439:.
334:,
45:.
520:.
263:)
257:(
245:)
241:(
231:·
224:·
217:·
210:·
193:.
179:.
150:)
144:(
139:)
135:(
125:·
118:·
111:·
104:·
77:.
52:)
48:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
