WILSON, FRANCIS

(1854), American actor; born Philadelphia, Pa. He first appeared on the state in a minstrel company, and made his debut in comedy in Philadelphia in 1877. His first appearance in comic opera was as Sir Joseph Porter in Pinafore, in which role he scored a pronounced succe . Later he organized his own_company and played for many years in New York City, taking the leading comedy roles in his productions. His most noteworthy succe es were in Hrminie, 1889; 05: When Knights Were Bold, 1907-08; Bachelor’s Baby, 1909-11; and The Spiritualist, 1911-12. In 1921 he toured the country with DeWolf Hopper in a revival of Erminie. 1922 he was an active factor in the Actor’s Equity A ociation. Besides writing some of ‘ the plays in which he appeared, he has published The Eugene Field I Knew, Recollections Of a Player, Going On the Stage and Joseph Jefferson.