Researching John Jesse

His poem on Mary, Queen of Scots was published about 1831, and was followed by a collection of poems entitled Tales of the Dead. He also wrote a drama, Richard III, and a fragmentary poem entitled London. None of these ventures achieved any success, but his numerous historical works are written with vivacity and interest, and, in their own style, are an important contribution to the history of England.

They include:*Memoirs of the Court of England during the Reign of the Stuarts (1840)*Memoirs of the Court of England from the Revolution of 1688 to the Death of George II (1843)*George Selwyn and his Contemporaries (1843, new ed. 1882)*Memoirs of the Pretenders and their Adherents (1845)*Memoirs of Richard the Third and his Contemporaries (1861)*Memoirs of the Life and Reign of King George the Third (1867)The titles of these works are sufficiently indicative of their character. They are sketches of the principal personages and of the social details of various periods in the history of England rather than complete and comprehensive historical narratives.

In addition to these works Jesse wrote Literary and Historical Memorials of London (1847), London and its Celebrities (1850), and a new edition of this work as London: its Celebrated Characters and Remarkable Places (1871). His Memoirs of Celebrated Etonians appeared in 1875.

A collected edition containing most of his works in thirty volumes was published in London in 1901.

In Richmond Park's Pembroke Lodge gardens, there is a memorial to the poet James Thomson, who died at Richmond in 1748. This is a black wooden board with a poem about Thomson by John Heneage Jesse.

He painted the girls he grew up with, citing the punk lifestyle of girls and drugs. Most of the people featured in his work are friends of his. They are generally nude or partially disrobed, in situations that are both fantastical and gritty. Jesse has, to date, two self declared series of renderings. The first consisting of black & white drawings he calls the "Baby Demonica" series and the second, full color paintings he calls the "Demonica Erotica" series. His paintings have been exhibited and sold at Art @ Large, a New York City erotic art gallery.

Jesse was a founding member and bassist of the New York Crust punk band, Nausea. The band toured the U.S., Canada, and Europe and disbanded in 1992. He has designed posters and album art for bands like Agnostic Front. He is a former guitar player for the band Morning Glory.

In 2005, Vivian Giourousis interviewed the artist for Hoard magazine and asked him to define punk rock. He replied, "…punk rock was the world in which I entered at 14 years old because I didn't fit in anywhere, not at school, not with friends, and not with my family. Back in the 80's we were all serious misfits who didn't belong, and together we were REALLY united. We all came from broken homes, we were victims of child abuse, we were angry, political, idealistic, drunk and proud. Basically punk rock music goes beyond the realms of just being a music scene. It's a lifestyle and commitment. It's my world, and honestly it's all I know and it's where I fit."