Individuals >> Neill, Harry (-1861)

Journalist.

Henry Clapp’s New York Times obituary describes Harry Neill--who has been alternately identified as “Harry Neal” and “Henry Neil”--as “a gifted Philadelphian” ("Obituary" 7). Neill was a journalist whose work was published in Vanity Fair and other contemporary periodicals. He also wrote under the alias, Inigo (T. Miller 37). Junius Browne claims that Neill was part of the “fraternity” that met at Pfaff’s restaurant, which “had late suppers, and were brilliant with talk over beer and pipes for several years” (156-57). William Winter, who had previously replaced Neill at the Albion, reminisces that Neill and Frank Wood were “young journalists of fine ability,” and “were frequently present” at Pfaff’s (T. Miller 79). Winter adds that “both of them died in youth, with their promise unfulfilled” (Old Friends 65).

References & Biographical Resources

Browne, Junius Henri. The Great Metropolis; A Mirror of New York. Hartford: American Publishing, 1869. 700 p. [more about this work]

Browne spells his name Harry Neal here and notes that at the time of his writing, Neal is deceased. Neal was a contributor to Vanity Fair and other contemporary publications.

He was part of the "fraternity" that met at Pfaff's resturant, that "had late suppers, and were brilliant with talk over beer and pipes for several years." Browne claims "Those were merry and famous nights, and many bright conceits and witticisms were discharged over the festive board" (156-7). [pages: 156-157]

Miller, Tice L. Bohemians and Critics: American Theatre Criticism in the Nineteenth Century. Metuchen, NJ: The Scarecrow Press, 1981. [more about this work]

Died in November(?) 1861. Also known by the alias, Inigo (37). He was replaced at the Albion by his friend, William Winter (79). [pages: 37, 79]

"Obituary: Henry Clapp." The New-York Times. 11 Apr. 1875: 7. [more about this work]

Henry Neill is described as a "gifted Philadelphian" who visit Pfaff's. According to Clapp's "Obituary," he died "years ago." [pages: 7]

Rawson, A. L. "A Bygone Bohemia." Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly. 1896. 96-107. [more about this work]

Rawson spells his name"'Harry' Neill" (103). [pages: 101, 103]

Seitz, Don Carlos. Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne): A Biography and Bibliography. NY: Harper & Brothers, 1919. [more about this work]

[pages: 97, 173]

Sentilles, Renee M. Performing Menken: Adah Isaacs Menken and the Birth of American Celebrity. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2003. [more about this work]

A regular in the bohemian circle at Pfaff's. [pages: 142]

Winter, William. Old Friends; Being Literary Recollections of Other Days. New York: Moffat, Yard and Company, 1909. 407 p. [more about this work]

Winter spells his name here as Henry Neill. Henry Neill and Frank Wood were "young journalists of fine ability," and "were frequently present" at Pfaff's. Winter continues, "both of them died in youth, with their promise unfulfilled" (65). [pages: 65]