J. R. Greville

John Rodger Greville (15 June 1834 – 29 April 1894)[1] was an Irish-born comic actor, singer, songwriter and stage manager who had a long career in Australia.

[2] In 1852 the family emigrated to Victoria, Australia, where Greville made his first stage appearance at the Queen's Theatre, Melbourne, singing with Charles Young at a Saturday night concert run by violinist Joseph Megson.

[3] He made his way to the Bendigo goldfields, where he was soon disabused of any hopes of "striking it lucky", and settled for more congenial work as an entertainer at Cairncross's Theatre,[3] singing comic songs of his own invention,[4] and taking small acting parts with the Ramsay and Walshe company.

In 1861 George Coppin recruited him to manage the Pantheon Theatre at his Cremorne Gardens, succeeding Richard Younge (brother of Fred).

His tombstone bore the inscription "A fellow of infinite jest"[19] Greville's father, John Rodger, was an aerated water manufacturer in Vaughan, Victoria, and died 19 May 1897.