Horace Mills was born on the 1^st September 1864 in Portsea, Portsmouth to Parents Herbert James Mills and Elizabeth Ann (nee Jolly). Horace was the oldest of six children. Born and raised in Woolwich in army life as his father was Colonel of the Ordnance Supply Board.

Horace was first spotted by Fred Leslie, Lady Clancarty and Miss Nellie Farren owing to the inducement presented by these members of the profession Horace was pushed to accept an engagement at the Gaiety.

Horace co-wrote the very successful burlesque “Miss Esmeralda” in 1877 which toured around the UK with the late Mr. Leslie. The Music composed by Meyer Lutz and his first performance was at the Gaiety Theatre in London.4

Above Fred Leslie

Horace Married Jessie Julia Raynes in Plumbstead London on the 18th February 1892. In 1893 he locked himself away and spent most of his time writing Pantomimes for The Royal, Glasgow, The Royal Newcastle and the Prince’s Manchester.
His stage appearances include Bertie Fitz Bunnyon in “As Large as Life” (1890) at Terry's Theatre, Remendado in “Carmen up to Data” (1890) at the Gaiety Theatre. Tom Edge in “Zephyr” (1891) at the Avenue Theatre, touring in “The Circus Girl” (1897), Widow Twankey in “Aladdin” at the Prince’s Theatre in Manchester (1900) with Ada Reeve and G. P. Huntley, in the Comedy Oddity “Mashing the Misses” (1904) at the Argyle Music Hall in Birkenhead, Adolphus Dudd in “The Girl Behind the Counter” (1906), Valet in The “Hon'ble Phil” with Denise Orme and G. P. Huntley at the Hicks Theatre (1908) and Swaak in “A Persian Princess” (1909).

Horace also appeared as the pantomime dame for many years at The Prince’s Theatre in Bristol appearing in “Humpty Dumpty” (1906) and Jack in the Beanstalk (1911), the widow Mrs Tutt in “Goody Two Shoes”, Old Mother Hubbard (1922) and Mrs Tippett in Goldilocks and the three bears.