Daniel Egerton facts for kids

Daniel Egerton (1772–1835) was a well-known English actor who performed on stage during the late 1700s and early 1800s. He was famous for playing serious characters in plays and also managed several theaters.

Life of a Stage Star

Daniel Egerton was born in London, England, on April 14, 1772. Some stories say he first trained to be a lawyer. Other accounts suggest he had a business near Whitechapel before he started acting. His first time on stage was at the Royalty Theatre. He also performed a few times at the Haymarket Theatre.

In 1799, Daniel Egerton joined the Birmingham theatre. He played Captain Absolute in a play called The Rivals. He stayed there for two summers. During the winter, he acted with Stephen Kemble in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In 1801, he appeared in Newcastle as Millamour in Know Your Own Mind. Two years later, in 1803, he performed in Bath for the first time. He played Frederick in The Poor Gentleman. In Bath, he took on many important roles, like Jaffeir in Venice Preserved.

Egerton moved to London in 1809. He started performing at the Covent Garden Theatre. This was during a time when audiences were protesting about ticket prices, known as the O. P. Riots. He was known for his strong performances as King Henry VIII, Tullus Aufidius in Coriolanus, and Clytus in Alexander the Great. He remained a part of the Covent Garden company for many years. He often played important supporting roles in serious plays.

While acting at Covent Garden, Daniel Egerton also took on the job of managing other theaters. From 1821 to 1824, he managed Sadler's Wells. He also managed the Olympic Theatre in 1821. He didn't act in these theaters himself, but his wife, Sarah Egerton, was a main performer there. His time managing the Olympic Theatre was not very successful, and he soon stopped.

In 1833, he teamed up with another actor, William Abbot. Together, they opened the Victoria Theatre, which used to be called the Coburg. However, by 1834, he had to retire from managing because of financial difficulties. Daniel Egerton passed away in July 1835.

People who saw him act said he was about five feet ten inches tall and looked strong. Some critics thought his acting could sometimes seem a bit unenthusiastic. In 1800, he even put on his own show called 'Whimsicalities' in Birmingham.