Modern English biography

PARKES, ALEXANDER (son of a brass lock manufacturer). _b._ Suffolk st. Birmingham 29 Dec. 1813; in charge of the casting department in the works of Messrs. Elkington; took out a patent for the electro-deposition of works of art 1841; patented a method of electro-plating flowers 1843; took out 66 patents in 46 years; superintended the erection of Elkington and Mason’s copper-smelting works at Pembrey, South Wales 1850–3; his method of using zinc for the desilverisation of lead, patented 1850, is in universal use in America; showed articles made from the compound of pyroxyline, named Parkesine, at exhibition of 1862, when he received a medal, this compound is now known as zylonite or celluloid. _d._ Rosendale road, West Dulwich 29 June 1890. _Engineering 25 July 1890 p._ 111; _Birmingham Weekly Post 5 July 1890_. PARKES, CAROLINE. _b._ Islington, London 1 Jany. 1838; appeared as Bacchus in a ballet at Her Majesty’s 1842; a columbine at Sadler’s Wells 1849, and often from that time to 1865; acted many characters in Phelps and Greenwood’s revivals of Shakespeare’s dramas at Sadler’s Wells 1850–60; a great favourite at the Marylebone theatre; chief dancer at the Eagle tavern, danced in Jason and Medea there 28 Aug. 1851; columbine at the Surrey 1851, at Sadler’s Wells 1852–3, 1855, 1857, and 1859; acted Donaldbain in Macbeth at Her Majesty’s 19 Jany. 1858; had a character in Cock Robin pantomine, Lyceum 1867; played Joe Tiller in Poll and my Partner Jo burlesque, St. James’ 6 May 1871; acted Dicky Dilver in Little Dicky Dilver pantomime, Princess’s 26 Dec. 1871; Jack in Jack and the bean stalk pantomime, Adelphi 26 Dec. 1872; played in Crystal palace pantomime 20 Dec. 1873, and several succeeding years, when her songs and dances were very popular; was seen at the majority of the London theatres and music halls; a teacher of dancing; _m._ Charles Gill Fenton, actor and scene painter, _d._ 15 Feb.