William Birch
BornFebruary 1831 (1831-02)
DiedApril 21, 1897 (1897-04-21) (aged 66)
OccupationMinstrel performer

William "Billy" Birch (February 1831 – 21 April 1897) was a minstrel performer in the United States.[1] An 1889 obituary referred to him as one of the oldest, best known, and most popular of the "Negro Minstral fraternity".[2]

Early life

Birch was born in Utica, New York, and began performing at age 13.[3]

Career

He performed with others at gold mining camps in California. He was on the ship Central America and was rescued at sea.[2] He then performed in New York City before returning to California as his career waned.[2]

He performed in blackface along with others in San Francisco in a theater where the Pacific Stock Exchange was later located.[4] His performances in San Francisco included free-wheeling improvisation on current events.[5]

He was on the ship SS Central America and was rescued by the S.S. Ellen before it sank.[2] His wife was also rescued and managed to tuck away her pet canary and take it to safety as well.[6]

Death

Birch died at home on 21 April 1897 from to paralysis of the brain and chronic Bright's disease.[3]

References

  1. "A MINSTREL'S SILVER WEDDING.; "BILLY" BIRCH AND HIS WIFE RECEIVING THEIR FRIENDS' CONGRATULATIONS". The New York Times. September 29, 1881.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Morning Union 4 April 1889 — California Digital Newspaper Collection".
  3. 1 2 "Rockland County Journal 24 April 1897 — HRVH Historical Newspapers". news.hrvh.org.
  4. "San Francisco History - Among the Merry Men of Minstrelsy". www.sfgenealogy.org.
  5. McCoy, Sharon. "Billy Birch". Humor in America.
  6. "Pet canary survives sinking of S.S. Central America". The Times-Picayune. December 8, 1857. p. 2.
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