Alexander Pope (actor)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Pope was an Irish actor and painter born in Cork, Ireland
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He was educated to follow his father's profession of miniature painting. He continued to paint miniatures and exhibit them at the Royal Academy
as late as 1821; but at an early date he took the stage, first appearing in London as Oroonoko
in 1785 at Covent Garden. He remained at this theatre almost continuously for nearly twenty years, then at the Haymarket
until his retirement, playing leading parts, chiefly tragic. He was well-known as Othello
and Henry VIII
.
He was married three times. His first wife, Elizabeth (1744-1797), a favourite English actress of great versatility, was billed before her marriage as Miss Younge. His second wife, Maria Ann Campion (1775-1803), also a popular actress, was a member of an Irish family. His third wife, born Clara Maria Leigh (1768-1838), was the widow of the artist Francis Wheatley
, and herself a skilful painter of figures and of flowers, under the name of Mrs Pope.
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
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He was educated to follow his father's profession of miniature painting. He continued to paint miniatures and exhibit them at the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
as late as 1821; but at an early date he took the stage, first appearing in London as Oroonoko
Oroonoko
Oroonoko is a short work of prose fiction by Aphra Behn , published in 1688, concerning the love of its hero, an enslaved African in Surinam in the 1660s, and the author's own experiences in the new South American colony....
in 1785 at Covent Garden. He remained at this theatre almost continuously for nearly twenty years, then at the Haymarket
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
until his retirement, playing leading parts, chiefly tragic. He was well-known as Othello
Othello (character)
Othello is a character in Shakespeare's Othello . The character's origin is traced to the tale, "Un Capitano Moro" in Gli Hecatommithi by Giovanni Battista Giraldi Cinthio. There, he is simply referred to as the Moor....
and Henry VIII
Henry VIII (play)
The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight is a history play by William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, based on the life of Henry VIII of England. An alternative title, All is True, is recorded in contemporary documents, the title Henry VIII not appearing until the play's publication...
.
He was married three times. His first wife, Elizabeth (1744-1797), a favourite English actress of great versatility, was billed before her marriage as Miss Younge. His second wife, Maria Ann Campion (1775-1803), also a popular actress, was a member of an Irish family. His third wife, born Clara Maria Leigh (1768-1838), was the widow of the artist Francis Wheatley
Francis Wheatley (painter)
Francis Wheatley was an English portrait and landscape painter.-Life and work:Wheatley was born at Wild Court, Covent Garden, London, the son of a master tailor. He studied at William Shipley's drawing school and the Royal Academy, and won several prizes from the Society of Arts...
, and herself a skilful painter of figures and of flowers, under the name of Mrs Pope.