A brief biographical account excerpted, and rearranged, from the Gleaner of August 8, 1939.
Daily Gleaner, August 8, 1939
Rafael J. de Cordova
R. J. deCordova may justly be considered to have been a Jamaican, for he was born in Kingston, December 15, 1824, and in his early career assisted in the publication of the Gleaner, his father being one of the founders.
R. J. deCordova came to New York in 1848 and became manager of the large importing house of Aymar and Company. This business he managed for twenty-five years. Also he wrote the leaders for the New York Daily Times, attended to the foreign correspondence of Lauman and Remp, and from 1857 until 1890 he was the most noted humorous lecturer in the United States. His original humorous stories were, given in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, and many other cities. He was offered $10,000 to deliver ten lectures in California.
From 1857 to 1890 Rafael deCordova ranked at the very top of the profession, delivering humorous sketches, ballads, and stories all over the country. With his courses of lectures subscribed for in advance, he was welcomed back to the key cities season after season,
and the S.R.O. sign, or its Victorian equivalent, was usually necessary —- five hundred were turned away the evening he opened Steinway Hall in New York. He accumulated an extensive repertoire.
He numbered among his friends many illustrious people. Among them was Kossuth, the Polish patriot; Garibaldi, the Italian patriot; Charles Dickens, the author. He was a patron of music in the 70's and Adelina Patti, the Shakashes, and Madam de la Grange were his friends.
The late Mr. Rafael deCordova re-visited Jamaica many years ago and gave a series of lectures in Kingston. He was a brother of the late Mr. G. J . deCordova, who was the father of Mr. Michael deCordova, the present Managing Director of the "Gleaner" Company Ltd.
Rafael J. de Cordova
R. J. deCordova may justly be considered to have been a Jamaican, for he was born in Kingston, December 15, 1824, and in his early career assisted in the publication of the Gleaner, his father being one of the founders.
R. J. deCordova came to New York in 1848 and became manager of the large importing house of Aymar and Company. This business he managed for twenty-five years. Also he wrote the leaders for the New York Daily Times, attended to the foreign correspondence of Lauman and Remp, and from 1857 until 1890 he was the most noted humorous lecturer in the United States. His original humorous stories were, given in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago, and many other cities. He was offered $10,000 to deliver ten lectures in California.
From 1857 to 1890 Rafael deCordova ranked at the very top of the profession, delivering humorous sketches, ballads, and stories all over the country. With his courses of lectures subscribed for in advance, he was welcomed back to the key cities season after season,
and the S.R.O. sign, or its Victorian equivalent, was usually necessary —- five hundred were turned away the evening he opened Steinway Hall in New York. He accumulated an extensive repertoire.
He numbered among his friends many illustrious people. Among them was Kossuth, the Polish patriot; Garibaldi, the Italian patriot; Charles Dickens, the author. He was a patron of music in the 70's and Adelina Patti, the Shakashes, and Madam de la Grange were his friends.
The late Mr. Rafael deCordova re-visited Jamaica many years ago and gave a series of lectures in Kingston. He was a brother of the late Mr. G. J . deCordova, who was the father of Mr. Michael deCordova, the present Managing Director of the "Gleaner" Company Ltd.
1877
Daily Gleaner, March 5, 1877
The Jamaican Stage 1655-1900. Errol Hill, 1992
Daily Gleaner, March 15, 1877
Daily Gleaner, March 22, 1877
Daily Gleaner, March 24, 1877
Daily Gleaner, March 24, 1877
"OUR NEW CLERGYMAN"
(From the Utica Herald).
The lecture of Mr. R. J. De Cordova last evening was more largely attended than many of its predecessors of the course have been.
The audience partook of the cultured character that always distinguishes Utica lecture-goers, and De Cordova’s fine points did not fall on stony ground. His lecture was full of good points, although it was not so much of a lecture as it was a story, at the close of which we expected to hear the words so often discouragingly appended to a Ledger tale, —- “To be continued in our next.”
But it was an interesting story. It described the call of the Rev. Mr. Trot to the pastorate of one of the churches of Turnipdale. It told of the enthusiasm of his reception; of the admiration excited by his sermons; of the views entertained of hypocrisy by Mrs. Deacon Hubbins, as expressed at that lady's tea-party. It told of the great 'Squire Upham, who lived in the big house, owned the big factory, through it managed the village and ostracised from society all who opposed him in anything; how Mr. Upham thought it his privilege to "run" the minister as well as the flock, inasmuch as he paid the largest part of the salary. It described the devotion, and the ostentatious presents sent by the different members of the congregation, hams and turnips and barrels of pork; and contrasted these with the modest present sent by the Mr. Jacobs, an overcoat, which did not have the name of the donor attached. Then it recounted the disgust of Upham, the ‘Squire, when Rev. Trot, in response to a request from that magnate to preach a sermon against the strikers in his mills, asked “who is right," and his subsequent successful endeavours to frown down the minister who dared ask such a question, refusing to pay anything towards his salary: discountenancing his presence in society; and leading the rest of the elders and magistrates in the church to do likewise. Then it told of Billy Upham'« visits to Maud Trot, and the ‘Squire’s command to discontinue them, which, having failed, he sent Billy off to New York, to engage in business, where he failed and involved his father in his own ruin. It then had a fortune descend to the Rev. Trot, who hired the Squire’s house and went off into all kinds of extravagant follies, until he was obliged to call on his old friend Jacobs to straighten out matters for him. With his wealth, fresh popularity came to the clergyman, and to ‘his daughter came back Billy Upham, fresh from a stay in Europe. Billy’s efforts at serenading were Iudicrously described, and finally peace and joy settled down on the whole lot.
DeCordova told this story, which of itself was interesting, with a gusto of manner that added greatly to its effect. The text was a scathing arraignment of the hypocrisy and undue influence which are brought to bear on a pastor to blunt his powers of usefulness and to harden his heart. It was a capital lecture.
"OUR NEW CLERGYMAN"
(From the Utica Herald).
The lecture of Mr. R. J. De Cordova last evening was more largely attended than many of its predecessors of the course have been.
The audience partook of the cultured character that always distinguishes Utica lecture-goers, and De Cordova’s fine points did not fall on stony ground. His lecture was full of good points, although it was not so much of a lecture as it was a story, at the close of which we expected to hear the words so often discouragingly appended to a Ledger tale, —- “To be continued in our next.”
But it was an interesting story. It described the call of the Rev. Mr. Trot to the pastorate of one of the churches of Turnipdale. It told of the enthusiasm of his reception; of the admiration excited by his sermons; of the views entertained of hypocrisy by Mrs. Deacon Hubbins, as expressed at that lady's tea-party. It told of the great 'Squire Upham, who lived in the big house, owned the big factory, through it managed the village and ostracised from society all who opposed him in anything; how Mr. Upham thought it his privilege to "run" the minister as well as the flock, inasmuch as he paid the largest part of the salary. It described the devotion, and the ostentatious presents sent by the different members of the congregation, hams and turnips and barrels of pork; and contrasted these with the modest present sent by the Mr. Jacobs, an overcoat, which did not have the name of the donor attached. Then it recounted the disgust of Upham, the ‘Squire, when Rev. Trot, in response to a request from that magnate to preach a sermon against the strikers in his mills, asked “who is right," and his subsequent successful endeavours to frown down the minister who dared ask such a question, refusing to pay anything towards his salary: discountenancing his presence in society; and leading the rest of the elders and magistrates in the church to do likewise. Then it told of Billy Upham'« visits to Maud Trot, and the ‘Squire’s command to discontinue them, which, having failed, he sent Billy off to New York, to engage in business, where he failed and involved his father in his own ruin. It then had a fortune descend to the Rev. Trot, who hired the Squire’s house and went off into all kinds of extravagant follies, until he was obliged to call on his old friend Jacobs to straighten out matters for him. With his wealth, fresh popularity came to the clergyman, and to ‘his daughter came back Billy Upham, fresh from a stay in Europe. Billy’s efforts at serenading were Iudicrously described, and finally peace and joy settled down on the whole lot.
DeCordova told this story, which of itself was interesting, with a gusto of manner that added greatly to its effect. The text was a scathing arraignment of the hypocrisy and undue influence which are brought to bear on a pastor to blunt his powers of usefulness and to harden his heart. It was a capital lecture.
1886
Daily Gleaner, May 6, 1886
Passengers Arrived In the s s Alvo from New York: -- Mr. R. J. DeCordova; Mr. W. J. Pierce; Mr. John Hope; Mr. William Winer; Mr. William Barley; Mr. William Collins. |
Daily Gleaner, May 8, 1886
Daily Gleaner, May 11, 1886
Last evening, pursuant to advertisement, Mr. R. J. de Cordova delivered his lecture at the Town Hall to an appreciative audience. The Hon. William Malabre presided, and the lecturer treated his subject in that masterly and humorous manner for which he is so popular with American audiences. |
1888
'Victoria Institute' Lecture Series
Daily Gleaner, May 16, 1888
Daily Gleaner, May 18, 1888
Daily Gleaner, May 23, 1888
Daily Gleaner, May 24, 1888
Daily Gleaner, May 25, 1888
Daily Gleaner, May 26, 1888
Daily Gleaner, May 29, 1888
Daily Gleaner, May 30, 1888
Daily Gleaner, June 5, 1888
further lectures
Daily Gleaner, June 15, 1888
'His last known appearance, according to available records, was in Kingston, Jamaica, on June 16, 1888. He lectured on The Law in re Midge vs. Pidge at the Mico School Room to raise funds for repairs to the Jewish Alms House.'
The Jamaican Stage, 1655-1900, Errol Hill, 1992
The Jamaican Stage, 1655-1900, Errol Hill, 1992