John Kane (actor) facts for kids
John Kane was a well-known actor and comedian from the 1700s. He was born in Ireland in 1746 and passed away in 1799 in Buxton, England. His death was quite unusual, involving a poisonous plant like hemlock.
A Traveling Actor
In the 1700s, actors like John Kane often traveled a lot. They moved around the country to perform in different towns. John Kane spent much of his time acting in England.
A special paper called a playbill from the Buxton Theatre shows his work. On August 25, 1792, the playbill listed him in a show called Romp. In this play, he acted as a funny character known as the 'Old Cockney'.
The Buxton Theatre Mystery
It was during his time performing at the Buxton Theatre that John Kane died. The story of his death is quite famous. People say he loved to eat, especially roast beef with horseradish sauce.
In 1799, someone preparing his meal in Buxton made a big mistake. They accidentally picked a poisonous plant called hemlock instead of wild horseradish. Hemlock looks a bit like horseradish, but it is very dangerous to eat.
His Famous Gravestone
You can find John Kane's grave in Buxton. It is located behind St. Anne's churchyard. Because he was so well-known and his death was so unusual, his gravestone is now a special monument. It is considered a 'listed monument', which means it is protected because of its historical importance.
