John (Johnny) Francis Patterson (1840–1889) was an Irish singer, songwriter and circus entertainer.
John Nee, an Irish actor who portrayed Patterson in a 2010 stage production about his life said: His talent for singing, clowning, and engaging with an audience was immense.
He was talent-spotted by Pablo Fanque, who The Beatles sing about in 'Mr Kite' – he was a famous black Yorkshire showman.
Aged 45, he was a wealthy man and so returned to Ireland buying a house in Belfast where he was reunited with his wife and family, but Hickey died in 1886.
[1] His political opinions expressed in a song (he wanted Protestants and Catholics to live together peacefully) caused a fight at one performance.
He was a character in Stewart Parker's play Heavenly Bodies along with the figure of Dion Boucicault representing two different sides of the Irish theatre.