CLASON, Isaac Starr, actor, born in New York in 1789; died in London in 1834. He received a good education, and his father, a wealthy New York merchant, left him a fortune; but he soon wasted it in a course of dissipation, and was obliged to support himself as a writer, teacher of elocution, and actor. He appeared at the Bowery and Park theatres in leading Shakespearian parts, but with moderate success. Having finally gone to London as a theatrical adventurer, and being reduced to poverty, he sealed up, in company with his mistress, the room in which they lodged, lighted a fire of charcoal, and died by its fumes. He published" Don Juan, Cantos XVII. and XVIII.," supplementary to Lord Byron's poem, and in a kindred vein (1825). It made his reputation, and is probably the best of the numerous imitations of the original. The scandal of the author's life, reflected in it, added to its popularity. This was followed by " Horace in New York," a collection of poems, full of the New York gossip of the day, and celebrating, among others, Madame Nali-bran, then the chief operatic singer. It also contained some feeling lines on the death of Thomas Addis Emmet. Clason wrote a poem founded on the "Beauchamp tragedy" of Kentucky, but it was never published, and is probably lost.