Charles Mayne Young
Encyclopedia
Charles Mayne Young English actor, was the son of an eminent London surgeon. Young's first stage appearance was in Liverpool
on September 20, 1798, as the character Young Norval (or the character Douglas according to some of his biographers) in Home
's blank verse tragedy Douglas
. Young's first London
appearance was in 1807 as Hamlet
with his friend Charles Mathews
playing Polonius. "With the decline of John Philip Kemble
, and until the coming of Kean
and Macready
, he was the leading English tragedian." He retired in 1832 in a farewell performance playing Hamlet with, as a special honour to him, Mathews as Polonius and Macready as the Ghost.
. In October of that year, she contracted to play at the Theatre Royal, Liverpool, as Juliet to Young's Romeo. On March 9, 1805, she and Charles married at St. Ann's Church, Liverpool. They contracted for a twelve-month on the stage at Manchester. The next year, after giving birth to her son, Julian Charles Young, she fell victim to puerperal fever, dying on July 17, 1806 at the age of 21.
Young gave custody of his son Julian to the care of the daughter of one Captain Forbes of the Royal Navy. "Although he survived her fifty years he never married again, and her memory remained green and beautiful to him through all that time. As he grew old this feeling intensified. He would at times take her miniature from the recesses of a secret drawer, and, as he gazed upon it until the tears ran down his furrowed cheeks, he would deplore its unworthy presentment of her sweet face, and then he would produce from a cherished morocco case a long tress of chestnut hair."
. Was educated at Eton
and Merchant Taylors
'. Was in a merchants' house, Longman & Co., for a short time, and first appeared under the name of Green, as Douglas, at the Theatre Royal, Liverpool. His success was so marked that the same winter he played lead at Manchester, and returned to fill the like position at Liverpool the following summer, from 1800 to 1802. Mr. Young made his London debut as Hamlet
at the Haymarket, June 22, 1807; joined the Covent Garden Company
in 1810, as second to John Kemble, and lead when he was absent. He even surpassed Kemble in many of the characters, which were supposed to be the great tragedian's own. Young was almost as good in comedy as he was in tragedy. He bade adieu to the stage as Hamlet at Covent Garden, May 30, 1832. He was a great favourite in society, was an accomplished gentleman, and a good sportsman. Some interesting memoirs of him were written by his son, the Rev. Julian Charles Young, rector of Ilmington
."
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
on September 20, 1798, as the character Young Norval (or the character Douglas according to some of his biographers) in Home
John Home
John Home was a Scottish poet and dramatist.-Biography:He was born at Leith, near Edinburgh, where his father, Alexander Home, a distant relation of the earls of Home, was town clerk. John was educated at the Leith Grammar School, and at the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated MA, in 1742...
's blank verse tragedy Douglas
Douglas (play)
Douglas is a blank verse tragedy by John Home. It was first performed in 1756 in EdinburghThe play was a big success in both Scotland and England for decades, attacting many notable actors of the period, such as Edmund Kean who made his debut in it. Peg Woffington played Lady Randolph, a part which...
. Young's first London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
appearance was in 1807 as Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
with his friend Charles Mathews
Charles Mathews
Charles Mathews was an English theatre manager and comic actor, well-known during his time for his gift of impersonation and skill at table entertainment...
playing Polonius. "With the decline of John Philip Kemble
John Philip Kemble
John Philip Kemble was an English actor. He was born into a theatrical family as the eldest son of Roger Kemble, actor-manager of a touring troupe. His elder sister Sarah Siddons achieved fame with him on the stage of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane...
, and until the coming of Kean
Edmund Kean
Edmund Kean was an English actor, regarded in his time as the greatest ever.-Early life:Kean was born in London. His father was probably Edmund Kean, an architect’s clerk, and his mother was an actress, Anne Carey, daughter of the 18th century composer and playwright Henry Carey...
and Macready
William Charles Macready
-Life:He was born in London, and educated at Rugby.It was his intention to go up to Oxford, but in 1809 the embarrassed affairs of his father, the lessee of several provincial theatres, called him to share the responsibilities of theatrical management. On 7 June 1810 he made a successful first...
, he was the leading English tragedian." He retired in 1832 in a farewell performance playing Hamlet with, as a special honour to him, Mathews as Polonius and Macready as the Ghost.
Young's first appearance in Liverpool
"A passage in 'Gore Advertiser' for Thursday, September 20, 1798, says: 'A young man (whose name we understand is Green) appeared for the first time in public last night at our theatre, in the part of Young Norval. He was received with great applause, and equitted himself in a manner highly creditable.' The player referred to Charles Mayne Young, one of the brightest ornaments of the British stage."Washington Irving's opinion of Young in London
I am delighted with Young, who acts with great judgment, discrimination and feeling, I think him much the best actor at present on the English stage. His Hamlet is a very fine performance, as is likewise his Stranger, Pierre, Chamont, etc.Young's wife and son
Julia Ann Grimani was Young's wife. From the famous Grimani family of Venice, she was famed for her youthful beauty and talent. At the Theatre Royal, Liverpool, on October 20, 1803, The Belle's Strategy was presented with Charles Mayne Young as Doricourt and Julia Ann Grimani as Letitia Hardy; this was the first stage performance of the two together. She made her London stage début in 1804 as JulietRomeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
. In October of that year, she contracted to play at the Theatre Royal, Liverpool, as Juliet to Young's Romeo. On March 9, 1805, she and Charles married at St. Ann's Church, Liverpool. They contracted for a twelve-month on the stage at Manchester. The next year, after giving birth to her son, Julian Charles Young, she fell victim to puerperal fever, dying on July 17, 1806 at the age of 21.
Young gave custody of his son Julian to the care of the daughter of one Captain Forbes of the Royal Navy. "Although he survived her fifty years he never married again, and her memory remained green and beautiful to him through all that time. As he grew old this feeling intensified. He would at times take her miniature from the recesses of a secret drawer, and, as he gazed upon it until the tears ran down his furrowed cheeks, he would deplore its unworthy presentment of her sweet face, and then he would produce from a cherished morocco case a long tress of chestnut hair."
Theatrical obituary written by Edward Leman Blanchard
"Charles Mayne Young was born January 10, 1777, in Fenchurch StreetFenchurch Street
Fenchurch Street is a street in the City of London home to a number of shops, pubs and offices. It links Aldgate at its eastern end with Lombard Street and Gracechurch Street to the west. To the south of Fenchurch Street and towards its eastern end is Fenchurch Street railway station...
. Was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Merchant Taylors
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
'. Was in a merchants' house, Longman & Co., for a short time, and first appeared under the name of Green, as Douglas, at the Theatre Royal, Liverpool. His success was so marked that the same winter he played lead at Manchester, and returned to fill the like position at Liverpool the following summer, from 1800 to 1802. Mr. Young made his London debut as Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
at the Haymarket, June 22, 1807; joined the Covent Garden Company
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in 1810, as second to John Kemble, and lead when he was absent. He even surpassed Kemble in many of the characters, which were supposed to be the great tragedian's own. Young was almost as good in comedy as he was in tragedy. He bade adieu to the stage as Hamlet at Covent Garden, May 30, 1832. He was a great favourite in society, was an accomplished gentleman, and a good sportsman. Some interesting memoirs of him were written by his son, the Rev. Julian Charles Young, rector of Ilmington
Ilmington
Ilmington is a village and civil parish about north-west of Shipston-on-Stour and south of Stratford-on-Avon in the Cotswolds in Warwickshire, England. Ilmington is the highest village in Warwickshire and is at the foot of the Ilmington Downs, which is the highest point in Warwickshire...
."