Billy Merson(1879-1947)

Billy Merson born William Henry Thompson in Nottingham in 1881, he began his career while working in a lace-making factory and performing shows as an acrobat and comedian in the evening at the Nottingham Theatre Royal. It took some time until he could make a good living from his stage work; he also wrote many songs including 'The Photo of the Girl I Left Behind', 'Desdemona' and possibly his best known song 'The Spaniard That Blighted My Life'. He was chairman of the music hall at the Players Theatre in London. Starred in a handful of silent film comedies under the direction of W.P. Kellino for the Homeland (Globe) Film Company in 1915-17 often taken from his own sketches. Later he was often seen in character roles in many talkies through the 1930's. According to an article in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 19/8/2011 Billy Merson whose real name is William Henry Thompson may have been related to the famous 19th Century bare knuckle prize fighter William 'Bendigo' Thompson born in Nottingham in the early 1800's, and his descendants are Hayden Thompson born 2011 son of stage actress Emma Rothwell born 1985.