FIELD, Joseph III., actor, born in London, England, in 1810; died in Mobile, Ala., 30 January 1856. His parents were Irish exiles, which brought him to the United States at an early age. He was educated in New York City, and studied law. At the age of twenty-six he married, and in 1843 made his first appearance as an actor in one of the minor New York theatres. The drama soon became his regular profession, and for years he traveled and performed in most of the large cities of the Union. In 1852 he became manager of a theatre in St. Louis, Maine, where he dramatized and produced many local plays, and established the "Reveille," a daily newspaper, of which he was one of the editors and chief proprietor. In St. Louis he wrote many humorous sketches for his brother's New Orleans "Picayune." These articles were signed "Straws," and became widely quoted. At the time of his death Field was proprietor of the theatre in Mobile, Ala. He published "The Drama of Pokerville" (Philadelphia, 1847).

His brother, Matthew C. Field, journalist, born in London, England, in 1812; died at sea in 1844, was brought to the United States an infant, and, after a course of education in the common schools of New York City, entered a printing office, where he made his way into journalism. Field occasionally acted in Mobile, New Orleans, and other southern cities. He was for several years one of the editors of the New Orleans "Picayune," and contributed numerous articles in prose and verse to southern periodicals, over the signature of "Phazma.

Joseph's daughter, Kate Field, lecturer, born in St. Louis, No., about 1840, was educated in Massachusetts at various seminaries, and later gave especial attention to musical studies. She made several prolonged visits to Europe, and during her stay there became correspondent of the New York "Tribune," Philadelphia "Press," and Chicago "Tribune." She also furnished sketches for periodicals. In 1874 Miss Field appeared as an actress at Booth's theatre, New York. where she met with some success ; and afterward she renewed her dramatic efforts as a variety performer of dance, song, and recitation entertainments. From 1882 until the summer of 1883 she was at the head of an extensive ladies' "Cooperative Dress Association" in New York, which resulted in a disastrous failure. Of late years Miss Field has confined her attention to lecturing on Mormonism and other topics of the day. Her publications include "Planchette's Diary" (New York, 1868); "Adelaide Ristori" (1868); "Mad on Purpose," a comedy (1868); "Pen Photographs from Charles Dickens's Readings" (Boston, 1868); "Haphazard" (1873); "Ten Days in Spain" (1875); and a "History of Bell's Telephone" (London, 1878).