LISTON

liston, john (c. 1776-1846), english comedian, was born in london. he made his public _debut_ on the stage at weymouth as lord duberley in _the heir-at-law_. after several dismal failures in tragic parts, some of them in support of mrs siddons, he discovered accidentally that his _forte_ was comedy, especially in the personation of old men and country boys, in which he displayed a fund of drollery and broad humour. an introduction to charles kemble led to his appearance at the haymarket on the 10th of june 1805 as sheepface in the _village lawyer_, and his association with this theatre continued with few interruptions until 1830. _paul pry_, the most famous of all his impersonations, was first presented on the 13th of september 1825, and soon became, thanks to his creative genius, a real personage. liston remained on the stage till 1837; during his last years his mind failed, and he died on the 22nd of march 1846. he had married in 1807 miss tyrer (d. 1854), a singer and actress. several pictures of liston in character are in the garrick club, london, and one as paul pry in the south kensington museum.