Name Edwin De | ||
Edward Forrest De Nyse (1841?—May 12, 1896), usually known by his byline Edwin F. De Nyse (and known colloquially as Ned De Nyse) was an American newspaper reporter, newspaper editor, poet, playwright, librettist, and theatrical producer.
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Early biography
De Nyse was born in Brooklyn approximately in 1841 to Denyse H. De Nyse and his wife Maria. He was from the "well-known New Utrecht family." He attended public school in New York City.
In the newspaper industry
De Nyse's articles appeared as early as 1857, when the New York Dispatch published his fictional story "Paul Genot, The Miser."
In the early part of his career he was on he staff of Evening Telegram and the New York Times.
Much of his career was spent with the New York Herald. In addition to being a reporter, he was employed "in a confidential capacity" by its founder, James Gordon Bennett, Sr.
He was a war correspondence for the New York Herald during the American Civil War. One of 200 Civil War correspondents for the New York Herald, De Nyse was accused of writing and publishing dispatches that aided the Confederate States Army. Under a military commission led by George H. Sharpe, colonel of the 120th New York Infantry, he was convicted and sentenced to six months' hard labor after which he would be banished from the Civil War front. But in his sentencing, Commander Joseph Hooker said "...it cannot be tolerated that newspapers correspondents should abuse the privilege of remaining with this army by the publication of intelligence certain to be of use to the enemy...Trusting that a milder punishment than that awarded by the Commission will be sufficient to serve as a warning to others of that class, the commanding General adopts the recommendation of the Commission and commutes the sentence to expulsion from the lines of this army."
Prior to this event, De Nyse's byline did not appear in his dispatches. By August 1863, his byline regularly appeared in dispatches beginning with the column "Interesting from Virginia." Accompanying the brigade led by Robert Sanford Foster, De Nyse wrote a series of dispatches detailing the war from the vantage point of being with the Union Army in Southern territory.
His serial story "Billy the Boxer" was announced in the Police Gazette of May 10, 1884.
He wrote poems that appeared on page 1 of the New York York Clipper and Theatrical Journal. Among his last poems might have been "The Veil of Tears" from 1885.
Theatre activity
Writing in 1899, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle wrote that he was a "well known playwright of a generation ago" and had done favors for the Kiralfy family of impresarios.
De Nyse was the agent of Adelaide Neilson for her American tour beginning in 1872.
In 1877, the "Theatrical Notes" column of the National Republican (Washington D.C.) reported on a prospect of a production of Anthony and Cleopatra at Niblo's Garden with Lulu Prior, with De Nyse "in the business department" (i.e. producer).
Personal
De Nyse married actress Lulu Prior (stage name of Ann Louise Prior and daughter of the actress Mrs. J.J. Prior) on March 29, 1874.
Death
As recounted by the New York Times, all was well with the De Nyse family until about 1885 when he was stricken with rheumatism and later developed cancer. From the onset of his illness he never left his home at 124 Ralph Avenue. His wife attended to him during this time, despite her not having employment.
Edward De Nyse died May 12, 1896 at his home. The New York Herald listed the cause of death as "blood poisoning." He had left his widow without money; the Times solicited funds for his burial. Several days later, the Times indicated that enough money had been raised for De Nyse's burial.
His widow, Lulu, died March 22, 1906 of heart disease.
Stage works
Plays except where noted. This list, taken from advertisements and copyright registrations, is not verified as being complete, nor are all works known to have been produced.