Charles Mayne Young facts for kids
Charles Mayne Young (born 1777, died 1856) was a famous English actor. He was born in London. His father was a respected surgeon, which is a type of doctor. Charles first acted on stage in Liverpool on September 20, 1798. He played a character called Young Norval in a play named Douglas.
Charles Young first performed in London in 1807. He played the main role of Hamlet. His friend Charles Mathews acted alongside him as Polonius. For many years, Charles Young was considered the top serious actor in England. He was very important before other famous actors like Kean and Macready became well-known. He stopped acting in 1832. His last show was also Hamlet. As a special tribute, his friends Mathews and Macready joined him on stage.
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Early Life of Charles Young
Charles Mayne Young was born on January 10, 1777. He grew up in an area of London called Fenchurch Street. He went to two well-known schools, Eton and Merchant Taylors'. Before becoming an actor, he worked for a company called Longman & Co. This company dealt with merchants.
Charles Young's Acting Career
Charles Young's first play was in Liverpool in 1798. After his first show, a newspaper review said he was a "young man" who "appeared for the first time." The review praised him, saying he did "highly credible" work. This means he did a really good job!
He was so successful that he quickly became a lead actor. He performed in Manchester the same winter. He also returned to Liverpool to be the main actor there from 1800 to 1802.
Young made his big London debut as Hamlet on June 22, 1807. This was at the Haymarket theatre. In 1810, he joined the Covent Garden Company. He was the second lead actor there, working with John Kemble. When Kemble was away, Charles Young took the main roles.
A famous writer named Washington Irving admired Young's acting. He wrote, "I am delighted with Young, who acts with great judgment, discrimination and feeling." He thought Young was "the best actor at present on the English stage." Irving especially liked Young's performances as Hamlet and other characters.
Charles Young can even be seen in a famous painting! He is shown as a person watching in George Hayter's large painting. This painting is called The Trial of Queen Caroline.
Charles Young's Family Life
Charles Young married a woman named Julia Ann Grimani. She came from a famous family in Venice. Julia was known for her beauty and her acting talent. They first acted together in Liverpool on October 20, 1803. They were in a play called The Belle's Strategy.
Julia made her first London stage appearance in 1804. She played Juliet. In October of that year, she agreed to act in Liverpool again. She played Juliet to Charles Young's Romeo. They got married on March 9, 1805, in Liverpool.
The next year, Julia gave birth to their son, Julian Charles Young. Sadly, she became very ill after childbirth. She passed away on July 17, 1806, when she was only 21 years old.
After Julia's death, Charles Young never married again. He gave his son, Julian, to be cared for by Captain Forbes's daughter. Captain Forbes was from the Royal Navy.
Julian, Charles's son, later became a priest. He worked at Hampton Court Palace and in a town called Ilmington, Warwickshire. Julian married Elizabeth Anne Georgiana on April 26, 1832. They had three sons and two daughters. In 1871, Julian wrote a book about his father. It was called A memoir of Charles Mayne Young, tragedian.
Charles Young's very last performance was on May 30, 1832. He played Hamlet at the Covent Garden theatre.
See also
- Henry Collen (who painted pictures of Charles Mayne Young)
