Albert Marshman Palmer was born in
North Stonington, Connecticut on July 27, 1838. He graduated from the law school of the
University of New York in 1860, served as
librarian at the
Mercantile Library,
New York, in 1869–72, and then for ten years managed the
Union Square Theatre. After traveling in
Europe he returned to New York in 1884 and then took charge of the
Madison Square Theatre and later also of
Palmer's Theatre at Broadway and Thirtieth Street.
Richard Mansfield for a time appeared under his management, as well as
Clara Morris,
Evelyn Campbell, and many other notable stage people who played in his famous
stock companies. His traveling companies made the plays
Jim the Penman,
Saints and Sinners,
A Pair of Spectacles, and
Elaine known throughout the country. Among the
playwrights whom he encouraged were
Bronson Howard,
G. F. Rowe,
Steele Mackaye,
W. D. Howells, and
Brander Matthews. For 14 years, Palmer was the president of the
Actors' Fund of America, which he originated in 1882. He was a founding member of the
Players. He died in New York City on March 7, 1905. ==References==