Grattan Riggs

Thomas Grattan Riggs (January 1835 – 15 June 1899) was a US-born actor who had a significant career in Australia portraying Irish characters, though he never visited the place.

[1] Riggs was born in Buffalo, New York to parents from County Westmeath,[2] and took to the stage when quite young, but his burgeoning[3] career in America was cut short by the Civil War.

[7] In later years Riggs suffered from dropsy and jaundice, and despite entreaties of friends anxious about his health, he embarked on a tour of Tasmania, playing his most famous successes: Shin Fane, The Irish Detective, and Conn the Shaughraun (ie vagabond).

Collapsing after a performance at the Gaiety Theatre, Zeehan, his last words spoken on stage implored the audience to remember "poor old Conn".

In memory of Thomas Grattan Riggs, Born at Buffalo, U.S.A., 1835; Died 15th June 1899, Aged Sixty-four years.