WILLIAM DUNLAP, rightly called the father of the American stage, was born in Perth Amboy, N. J., February 19, 1766, and died in New York, September 28, 1839. He came to New York in 1777 and commenced the study of painting, for which he had an early inclination. In 1784 he went to London, where for three years he worked under Benjamin West. On his return he became interested in the drama, and wrote his first play. He soon after became closely identified with the theatre, and appeared on the stage. In 1796 he became manager of the John Street Theatre, and, soon after, sole manager of the New Park Theatre. In 1805 he retired from the management a bankrupt, and devoted himself to his original profession of painting. In 1814 he received the appointment of Assistant Paymaster General of the New York State Militia. In 1817 he again took up the brush, and exhibited some of his large paintings in most of the cities of the United States. He was founder and vice-president of the National Academy of Design. He wrote _The Life of George Frederick Cooke_ and _A History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in America_--a most valuable work. He also wrote a number of other works on different subjects. THE FATHER; OR, AMERICAN SHANDYISM. A Comedy in Five Acts, as performed at the New York Theatre by the old American Company, September 7, 1789. Written by a citizen of New York. New York, 1789. 8vo, pp. 68. Dunlap's first published play. Reprinted by the Dunlap Society, 1887. DARBY'S RETURN. A Comic Sketch, as performed at the New York Theatre, November 24, 1789, for the Benefit of Mr. Wignell. New York: Printed by Hodge, Allen, and Campbell, and sold at their respective Bookstores, and by Berry and Rogers, 1789. 8vo, pp. 16. Sequel to _The Poor Soldier_. Another Edition. New York, 1806. 12mo. Also reprinted in the Appendix to _Washington and the Theatre_, by Paul L. Ford, New York, 1899. THE ARCHERS; OR, MOUNTAINEERS OF SWITZERLAND. An Opera in Three Acts, as performed by the Old American Co. in New York. New York, 1796. 8vo, pp. 94. Played at the Park Theatre, New York, April 18, 1796. TELL THE TRUTH AND SHAME THE DEVIL! A Farce. New York, 1797. 12mo, pp. 44. Played at the John Street Theatre, January 9, 1797. THE KNIGHT'S ADVENTURE. A Comedy. New York, 1797. 12mo. A play was announced to be played at the John Street Theatre, in 1797, under the title of _The Man of Fortitude; or, the Knight's Adventure_, by Jno. Hodgkinson [q. v.], and Dunlap asserts that it was taken bodily from his play while the MS. was in Hodgkinson's hands.