Charles Francis Coghlan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Francis Coghlan
|
|
|---|---|
"The Wallet of Time" 1913
|
|
| Born |
Charles Francis Coghlan
11 June 1842 Paris, France
|
| Died | 27 November 1899 (aged 57) Galveston, Texas, USA
|
| Occupation | Actor and Playwright |
| Years active | 1859-1899 |
| Spouse(s) | Kühne Beveridge |
| Partner(s) | Louisa Elizabeth Thorn |
| Parent(s) | Francis Coghlan Amie Marie Ruhly |
| Relatives | Rose Coghlan (sister or half-sister) Gertrude Coghlan (daughter) Charles F. Coghlan (either nephew or son) |
Charles Francis Coghlan (born June 11, 1842 – died November 27, 1899) was a famous actor and playwright. He was popular in both England and America during his time.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
Charles F. Coghlan was born in Paris, France, on June 11, 1842. His parents, Francis and Amie Marie Coghlan, were British. His father, from Dublin, Ireland, started a company called Coghlan's Continental Dispatch. He also published travel guides. His father was friends with famous writers like Charles Dickens.
Charles grew up in England, in places like Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and Hull, Yorkshire. Even though his family wanted him to become a lawyer, Charles decided to follow his dream of becoming an actor when he was still a teenager.
A Star on Stage
Charles Coghlan started his acting career in 1859. He had small roles with the Sadler's Wells Theatre's summer tour. In Dublin, he met John Baldwin Buckstone, who managed the Haymarket Theatre. Charles showed him a play he had written. Buckstone didn't use the play, but he gave Charles a small part in "The Pilgrim of Love" in 1860.
Over the next few years, Charles played many supporting roles. This helped him become a more respected actor. In 1868, he played Charles Surface in "School for Scandal" at the St James's Theatre. He also played Sir Oscar in "Life for Life." Charles then joined the Prince of Wales Theatre. There, he played important roles like Geoffrey Delamayn and Harry Speadbrow.
In 1876, a theater manager named Augustin Daly brought Charles to America. Charles spent most of his career there. He made his first appearance on Broadway on September 12, 1876. He played Alfred Evelyn in "Money" and was an instant hit. Later that year, he played Orlando in Shakespeare's As You Like It. His co-star was Fanny Davenport.
Charles returned to London in 1881 for a play called "The Colonel". A big moment in his career came on December 2, 1898. He starred in his own play, The Royal Box, at the Fifth Avenue Theater. This play was based on Kean by Alexandre Dumas. Charles played the part of Clarence and it was a huge success.
During his career, Charles acted alongside his sister, Rose Coghlan. He also performed with famous actresses like Lillie Langtry and Minnie Maddern Fiske. His very last performance was in Houston, Texas, on October 28, 1899. He played Clarence in "The Royal Box."
After Charles passed away, his sister Rose performed one of his plays. It was called Fortune's Bridge. Rose said that Charles had finished the play just before he died. The name of the play came from his Canadian address, "Charles Coghlan, Fortune's Bridge."
Family Life
Charles Coghlan had a long-term partner named Louisa Elizabeth Thorn. She was an actress from London. They had a daughter named Gertrude Coghlan. Gertrude also became an actress.
In 1893, Charles married Kühne Beveridge. She was a young sculptor and actress from Illinois. This caused some questions about Charles's past. His sister, Rose Coghlan, said that Charles and Louisa were never legally married.
When Gertrude found out about her father's marriage, she told the press she was his adopted daughter. Charles later supported Gertrude's claim. Within a year, Charles returned to Louisa. Kühne Beveridge then sought a divorce. Gertrude Coghlan started acting at age sixteen. She had a successful theater career that lasted almost fifty years. She even joined her father's acting company.
A Strange Ending
Charles Francis Coghlan died in Galveston, Texas, on November 27, 1899. He had been sick for about a month. He had come to Galveston to perform "The Royal Box," but his illness stopped him from acting.
His body was placed in a metal casket and stored in a vault at a local cemetery. The family planned to bury him on his farm in Fortune Bridge, Canada. This was a place he bought as a summer home. A few days later, it was announced that his body would be returned to New York for cremation.
However, nearly a year later, his body was still in Galveston. A terrible storm, the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, hit the city. The storm's powerful waves swept Charles's casket away from the cemetery.
For several years, the New York Actors Club offered a reward for anyone who found his coffin. In January 1907, hunters found a metal coffin partly buried in a marsh. It was about nine miles from Galveston. This coffin was confirmed to be Charles Coghlan's.
Years later, a story began to spread. It claimed that Charles's casket was found in 1907 by Canadian fishermen. They supposedly found it near his farm in Prince Edward Island. The story said the coffin had drifted about two thousand miles! Some people called it the "homing coffin." This story was first published in a book in 1925. It was also in a "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" column in 1929. However, the news reports from 1907 say his coffin was found in Texas, not Canada.
What People Said About Him
From Charles Francis Coghlan's obituary in 1899:
"He was a very handsome man. He was brave, unique, proud, and very welcoming to guests. He also liked to spend money. A critic in 1879 praised his acting. They said he was excellent because he completely forgot himself in his roles. He didn't try to create cheap effects. He played his part fully and truly. He didn't just play Charles Coghlan; he truly became the character."
Plays by Charles Coghlan
Here is a list of plays that Charles Francis Coghlan wrote or adapted:
- "Love and Hate, or The Court of Charles I" (1858)
- Good as Gold (1869)
- Lady Flora (1876)
- The House of Darnley (1877) - he wrote the last part of this unfinished play.
- For Life (1877 in America)
- Jocelyn (1889) - starring his sister Rose Coghlan.
- Lady Barter (1891) - starring Lily Langtree.
- The Check Book (1894) - starring Rose Coghlan.
- A Quiet Rubber (1876)
- The Royal Box (1898) - his adaptation of "Kean."
- Citizen Pierre (1899)
Images for kids
-
Charles Francis Coghlan
-
Charles Francis Coghlan as Orlando in "As You Like It" 1876
-
Charles Francis Coghlan
-
Kühne Beveridge
-
Aftermath of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane
