J. Hartley Manners

Born in London in 1870, J. Hartley Manners built his career as a playwright and director, eventually becoming a notable figure in the American theatre. Although English by birth, he spent much of his professional life working in the United States, where his plays found a wide audience.

His best-known success was Peg o' My Heart, a hugely popular comedy that helped secure his reputation. He wrote a number of other stage works as well, and his career reflected the transatlantic theatre world of the early twentieth century.

Manners was married to actress Laurette Taylor, one of the most celebrated performers of her day, and their partnership became an important part of his public story. He died in 1928, but he remains remembered mainly for the enduring success of Peg o' My Heart and his place in early modern theatre.