Mary Ann Davenport facts for kids
Mary Ann Davenport (born in 1759, died in 1843) was a famous British actress. She was especially known for her roles in plays by William Shakespeare. She became a well-known face on the stage during her time.
A Life on Stage
Mary Ann Harvey was born in a town called Launceston in Cornwall, England. She first started acting when she was about 25 years old. Her very first performance was in December 1784 in Bath. She played a character named Lappet in a play called The Miser.
Early Career and Marriage
After acting in Bath for two seasons, Mary Ann performed in other cities like Exeter and Bristol. In 1786, she married George Gosling Davenport. He was also an actor, but he mostly worked in smaller, local theaters.
Later, Mary Ann and George worked at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. They also performed at the famous Covent Garden theatre in London. In 1806, Mary Ann played Lady Denny in the play Henry VIII. She acted alongside very famous actors like Sarah Siddons and John Philip Kemble.
Retirement and Later Life
Mary Ann's husband, George, was a helpful member of the Covent Garden theatre company. He worked as a secretary for a fund that helped actors. He retired in 1812. After he passed away, Mary Ann lived a quiet life with her daughter.
In 1817, she played Lady Denny in Henry VIII again. A painting of her in this role was made for an art show. Mary Ann finally retired from acting on May 25, 1830. She had a long and successful career on stage.
She passed away at her home in Brompton, London, on May 8, 1843. She was buried at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden.
Famous Roles
Mary Ann Davenport played many different characters during her long acting career. Here are some of the plays she was in:
- Lady Sorel in The Way to Get Married (1796)
- Lady Duberly in The Heir at Law (1797)
- Mrs Buckram in False Impressions (1797)
- Dame Ashfield in Speed the Plough (1798)
- Lady Mary Diamond in The Wise Man of the East (1799)
- Mrs Bulgruddery in John Bull (1803)
- Mrs Nicely in The School of Reform (1805)
- Mrs Moreen in Town and Country (1807)
- Mrs Leech in The Gazette Extraordinary (1811)
- Dame Broadcast in Education (1813)
