WATER RAT NUMBER 001 - FIRST KING RAT
BIOGRAPHY
Harry Freeman proudly holds the distinction of being Water Rat No. 001 – the very first King Rat of the Grand Order of Water Rats. He was born on 29 July 1858 near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire and became one of the most popular music hall entertainers of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
Freeman began performing in his teens and found early success in Birmingham, which would remain his home base throughout his life. His career took off in 1877 after a performance at a 'Free and Easy' night in Walsall, and by 1881 he had made his London debut at Lusby’s Music Hall. Though well-received in the capital, it was in Birmingham that he truly became a household name.
Known for his comic timing and his gift for catchy “motto songs,” Harry charmed audiences with lively numbers such as Can’t Stop, They’re After Me, He’s a Rider, Leicester Square, The Giddy Little Girl Said “No!” and They Were All Occupied. His act often combined cheeky humour with observational wit, making him a firm favourite on music hall bills across the country.
In 1890, when the Grand Order of Water Rats was formed by Joe Elvin and Jack Lotto, fellow music hall legend Dan Leno was offered the title of the first King Rat. Leno declined, suggesting it go instead to Harry Freeman – a move that cemented Freeman’s place at the top of the Order’s history.
He continued to perform well into the early 20th century and was immortalised as one of the 231 stars featured in Walter Lambert’s famous painting Popularity, which depicted the leading music hall artists of the day.
Harry Freeman passed away on 30 July 1922 following an abdominal operation in Covent Garden. He was laid to rest in St Mary’s Church, Handsworth, Birmingham – the city that had embraced him from the start. His legacy as a comic vocalist and the original King Rat still echoes through the halls of variety to this day.
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