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Margaret Martyr
Margaret Martyr by Gainsborogh Dupont in 1794.jpg
Born
Margaret Thornton

1762
probably London, England, Kingdom of Great Britain
Died 7 June 1807
Nationality British
Known for acting
Spouse(s) Captain Martyr
Partner(s) William Parke
Children 3

Margaret Martyr (born Margaret Thornton) was a talented British singer and actress. She was born in 1762, likely in London, England. She became well-known for her performances on stage during the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Margaret Martyr's parents lived in London when she was born in 1762. She first gained attention in 1778 as a singer. She performed songs by James Hook at Vauxhall Gardens, a popular entertainment spot. Margaret was a student of James Hook. She sang there every summer until 1780.

Portrait of Miss Thornton, at Vauxhall (4673863)
Margaret Thornton performing at Vauxhall Gardens

Later, she began singing in Ballad operas. These were plays that included songs. In 1779, she appeared in the play Love in a Village at the famous Covent Garden Theatre.

Family Life

Margaret married a man named Captain Martyr. They had one daughter together. Sadly, her husband died in 1783.

After her husband's death, Margaret found a partner in William Thomas Parke, who was a musician. They had two sons together.

Acting Style and Success

Margaret Martyr's acting style was said to be influenced by her well-known mentor, Ann Catley. A writer named Thomas Bellamy praised Margaret in 1795. He wrote that she was "sportive, playful, arch and free." This shows she was seen as a lively and charming performer.

Margaret earned a good salary at the Covent Garden Theatre. She often played "second woman" roles. These were important supporting characters. She also performed in Breeches roles. In these roles, female actresses would dress in men's clothing. This was a common type of performance at the time.

In 1794, she played the character Euphrosyne in a play called Comus. She spent every winter performing at Covent Garden until 1804. During the summers, she would travel to other cities to perform. She also continued to appear at Vauxhall Gardens.

Later Years and Legacy

Margaret Martyr passed away on June 7, 1807. She was still working for the Covent Garden Theatre at the time of her death. She was buried in St Martin in the Fields church in London.

Margaret's will, which is a legal document about her wishes after death, named her partner William Parke as the person in charge of her estate. She owned a farm in Yalding. This farm was divided between her two sons, after her daughter received half of it.

Many pictures of Margaret Martyr were made during her lifetime. One famous painting was created in 1794 by Gainsborough Dupont.

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