Mrs Woodham facts for kids

Mrs. Woodham was a famous entertainer who performed as both a singer and an actress. She was well-known in two major cities: Dublin, Ireland, and London, England. Many people knew her by her fun nickname, "Buck Spencer."

Early Life and Training

Mrs. Woodham was born in the United Kingdom around the year 1743. Her original family name was Spencer. When she was young, she trained to become a performer.

She studied music and acting with a very important teacher named Thomas Arne. He was a famous composer and music teacher in England. Mrs. Woodham learned a lot from him.

First Performances

In the 1750s, Mrs. Woodham began her acting career. She performed at a well-known theater called the Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin. One of her early roles was in a play called Comus, which was written by her teacher, Thomas Arne.

Performing on Stage

After her time in Dublin, Mrs. Woodham moved back to England. In the early 1770s, she performed in London. She was a popular performer at a place called Marylebone Gardens. This was a famous entertainment spot in London at the time.

Later, she moved back to Dublin, Ireland, to continue her career there. She was known for her singing and acting skills.

Family Life

Mrs. Woodham's life included some changes in her family. She first married a man whose last name was Smith. They had a daughter together. Sadly, Mr. Smith passed away.

After his death, Mrs. Woodham married again, this time to a man with the last name Woodham. However, this marriage did not last, and they later divorced. After that, she lived with her daughter and her daughter's family.

Her Final Performance

Mrs. Woodham passed away on February 2, 1803. She died during a fire at Astley's theatre in London. When the fire alarm sounded, she tried to escape.

However, she went back inside the burning building. Some say she went back for a dress, while others believe she was trying to save money from the theater's ticket sales. She was in charge of these funds. Sadly, she died from breathing in too much smoke. Her body was badly burned in the fire.

There was some confusion about her death. Her last name was sometimes written as "Woodman" instead of "Woodham." This led to a mistake where another actress, Mrs Woodman, was wrongly thought to have died.

Later Mentions

Years later, in 1806, an actress named Mrs. Woodham from England performed in Philadelphia, USA. She was known for her funny and musical performances. It is not clear if this was the same Mrs. Woodham or another actress with the same name.