Lewis Hallam (1714-56) founded the first professional theatre company in America and built the first permanent theatre in New York, the John St. Theatre, in 1753. Hallam spent the French and Indian War in Jamaica (as far as possible from those nasty French and Indians as possible) and then returned to the States (though they weren't the States yet, more the Colonies), married, and went on tour. He was an accomplished comedian as well as a producer, director, and company manager. He died in his early forties but the company went on with his son, Lewis Hallam, Jr., taking his father's role. Hallam is largely responsible for the beginning of the theatre scene in New York City (rather than, say, Philadelphia or Boston), and for inspiring future generations of draft dodgers.