Mary Campion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Anne Campion
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| Born | 1687 |
| Died | 19 May 1706 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | performer and mistress |
| Known for | Child singer and dancer |
| Partner(s) | William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire |
| Children | Mary Anne Cavendish |
Mary Campion or Mary Anne Campion (1687 – 19 May 1706) was a very talented British singer and dancer. She started performing when she was still a child. Later, she became a companion to William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Devonshire. She passed away in 1706. The Duke paid for a special tomb for her, but he did not go to her funeral.
Contents
Mary Campion's Life Story
Early Life and Amazing Talent
Mary Campion was born in 1687. We do not know much about her parents. Some people think her father worked for William Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire. Mary was a very gifted performer from a young age.
She joined a theatre group run by Christopher Rich. By 1698, she was already singing on stage in a play called Phaeton. Mary showed how many talents she had at a special performance in 1703. She could speak Italian very well. She even played the harpsichord with a musician named Visconti.
Mary also sang songs by John Weldon. She performed a duet, which is a song for two singers, with Richard Leveridge. This song was by the famous composer Henry Purcell. Important people, like the Danish envoy, came to watch her perform.
A New Path in Life
Mary Campion is believed to have given her last public performance on March 14, 1704. After this, she became a companion to William Cavendish, the 1st Duke of Devonshire. The Duke was in his sixties at this time. He gave Mary a house in Bolton Street in Westminster.
Mary and the Duke had a child together. Their daughter was named Mary Anne Cavendish. Sadly, Mary Campion died on May 19, 1706. She passed away from a fever. Some people believe her death was related to childbirth.
The Duke surprised many people by arranging for Mary to be buried in his family church. He paid for a very grand tomb for her. However, he did not attend her funeral. The Duke himself died the following year.
Mary Campion's Legacy
Mary Campion's memorial is in the Latimer church. It has a special message about her. It says, "Her lovely form with every grace conjoined, illustrated the virtues of her mind." This means her beauty showed how good and kind she was.
Before she died, Mary wrote a will. In her will, she left her house, all her belongings, and her jewelry to her baby daughter. These things were to be sold. The money would then be put into a fund for her daughter. Mary Anne Cavendish would receive this money when she turned 21 years old.
