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unusual facts about John Bull's Other Island


Denshawai Incident

George Bernard Shaw, in the preface to his play John Bull's Other Island, gave the public more of his view of the incident.


1613 in music

John Bull – God the father, God the son (performed at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Frederick V, Elector Palatine).

Anne Cromwell's Virginal Book

However composers of some of the other pieces can be identified from other sources, and include John Bull, John Dowland and Henry Lawes.

Deutscher Michel

Der Deutsche Michel (literal. "The German Michael") is a figure representing the national character of the German people, rather as John Bull represents the British and Uncle Sam represent the Americans.

Harrison Owen

From 1921 to 1932 he worked as a leader-writer for the Daily Sketch and also produced a weekly feature for John Bull until 1940.

John Eugene Vedrenne

During their time at the latter, they premiered several of George Bernard Shaw's plays, including John Bull's Other Island and Major Barbara.

Pedro Ruimonte

As head of the musicians of the ducal court, aside from overseeing the boy singers, he had under his charge organists and composers of great stature, including the English Peter Philips and John Bull (then organist at the cathedral of Antwerp), and the Flemish Peeter Cornet and Philippe van der Meulen.

Rollo in Emblemland

In it, a young boy named Rollo falls asleep and finds himself not in Wonderland, but in "Emblemland", a place described by Cupid as "the home of all Emblems.... Emblems are signs and symbols. I'm an Emblem, because I am the symbol of love; Uncle Sam is the symbol of the United States, and John Bull is the symbol of England, and the Owl is the symbol of wisdom...."

Shepheard's Hotel

Richard Burton, a close friend of Shepheard, left a detailed description of his generous character and successful career, describing him as "a remarkable man in many points, and in all things the model John Bull".

Sir Oswald Mosley, 4th Baronet

Mosley was nicknamed "Baronet John Bull" due to his resemblance to John Bull, the national personification of Great Britain.

Threadneedle Street

It is said that is here that the British national anthem was sung, in private, in 1607 for the first time, conducted by John Bull.


see also

William Poel

He wrote several comediettas and a book, Shakespeare in the Theatre. The National Portrait Gallery contains a number of pictures by Henry Tonks of Poel in the role as Father Keegan in G. B. Shaw's play John Bull's Other Island. His great-nephew Rupert Pole (1919-2006) was married to Anaïs Nin.