Known to his family and friends as 'Willie', he entered Trinity College, Dublin in 1872 to study civil engineering. Here, instead of focusing on academic matters, he began to develop his remarkable talents for songwriting, dramatics, banjo playing and watercolour painting. For a college concert in 1877 he wrote a song 'Abdulla Bulbul Ameer' which was so successful that he published it. Not having registered copyright the song was pirated and became an even greater 'hit' - but without financial benefit to the author.
After an unusually long number of years French emerged from university with
an engineering qualification. He was, however, about to emigrate to Canada in
1883 when he obtained a post on a government drainage scheme in County Cavan.
Here, the self-styled 'Inspector Of Drains' also found scope to develop his
interest in music and drama whilst a series of spectacular sunsets, caused by
the effects of a far distant volcanic eruption, fuelled his enthusiasm for warercolour
painting. His time in Cavan, which ended abruptly in 1888, also provided inspiration
for two of his greatest songs - 'Phil the Fluter's Ball' and 'Slattery's Mounted
Fut'.
Subsequently, in Dublin, French was for two years editor of a comic weekly magazine
called 'The Jarvey'. He availed of this medium to promote a series of concerts
throughout Ireland under the banner of 'The Jarvey Concert Company' and to advertise
his ever increasing output of comic songs. Following the demise of 'The Jarvey',
French, never far from the footlights, provided the libretto and played the
leading role in two comic operas (music by his friend and collaborator, Dr.W.H.Collisson).
At this time French suffered his greatest tragedy when, in 1891, his young wife,
Ettie died in childbirth just one year and one day after their idyllic marriage.
Their baby daughter also died some days later. These sadnesses were, it is believed,
the background for those poignant poems 'Gortnamona', 'Only Goodnight' and 'Not
Lost But Gone Before'.
At this time French turned to the stage for a fulltime career. Encouraged by
a friend and erstwhile partner, Richard C. Orpen, and now professionally known
as 'W. Percy French' he wrote, produced and played the major part in a topical
revue called 'Dublin Up To Date'. Consisting of sketches, caricatures, stories
and songs, this show was to form the basis of a stage entertainment that would
be his future fame and livelyhood. In 1900 following ever greater acclaim in
Ireland and now known professionally as 'Percy French' he went to the richer
pastures of London.
Having played successfully
in the theatres and music halls of the populous cities of Britain the career
of Percy French as an entertainer reached its zenith when he and Dr. Collisson
toured Canada, U.S.A. and the West Indies in 1910 and received enthusiastic
notices in the major cities of the east coast. French also toured the ski resorts
of Switzerland from time to time and although based in London from 1900, he
returned to play the holiday resorts and towns of Ireland each year without
fail. While performing in Glasgow in 1920 he was taken ill and died some days
later in Formby, Lancashire.
Grave of William Percy French at St. Luke's Church, Formby,
Lancashire.
Percy French in 1894 had married his second wife Helen (Lennie) Sheldon of Burmington
House, Warwickshire, England. Subsequently three daughters were born to them
- Ettie, Mollie and Joan. Joan, the last surviving daughter died in 1996. Percy
French loved the company of children and the following are pictograph letters
which he sent to his children from Dublin.
Sunday. Dear Ettie, I got
many pennies in Dublin. I am sailing in a ship to Glasgow, a town in Scotland.
I saw your letter to Granny. I liked the cats very much. Your Loving Daddy.
Dear Honeybee, how are Daisey and Bunny? I hope Vic is well. Mummy and I saw the pantomime. Can you read the Pink Night Owl: I cross the sea to-day. Kisses to Ettie and Mlle Blanc.