Robert Bensley facts for kids
Robert Bensley (around 1740 – 1817) was a famous English actor from the 1700s. A well-known writer named Charles Lamb praised him highly in his essays. Bensley was known for his serious and grand acting style.
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Robert Bensley's Early Life
We don't know much about Robert Bensley's early years. However, his family was not poor. His uncle, Sir William Bensley, was a director of the British East India Company. Robert might have gone to Westminster School.
It's believed he served in America as a lieutenant in the marines. He got this job thanks to another relative. While serving, he might have acted in plays for soldiers. One early story says he played a role in Thomas Otway's play, The Orphan. He also acted with traveling theater groups before becoming a professional actor.
Bensley's Acting Career
After leaving the military, Robert Bensley moved to London. There, he met the famous actor David Garrick. Garrick hired him to act at the Drury Lane theatre. Bensley first appeared on stage in 1765. He played the character Pierre in Otway's play, Venice Preserv'd.
He stayed with Garrick, often playing supporting roles. He acted as Edmund in King Lear and Buckingham in Richard III. He also played the main role in a play called The Guardian.
The next year, Bensley moved to the Covent Garden theatre. He earned sixteen shillings a day working for George Colman the Elder. He stayed there for eight years in a row. During this time, he played many important parts. These included Mosca in Ben Jonson's Volpone and Iago in Othello. He also played Prospero in The Tempest.
In 1775, Bensley returned to Drury Lane. This was for Garrick's last year before retiring. Bensley had become a more important actor by then. He earned nearly ten pounds a week. He also had special performances each year that could bring in up to 150 pounds.
He stayed at Drury Lane for the rest of his career. Sometimes, he performed at the Haymarket during the summers. He also acted in Bristol sometimes. Bensley was a reliable actor with about 75 different roles he could play.
Retirement and Later Life
Robert Bensley retired from acting in 1796. His final role was in Arthur Murphy's play, The Grecian Daughter. He acted alongside the famous actress Sarah Siddons. This last performance earned him 362 pounds.
After retiring, Bensley worked for a short time as a paymaster at the Knightsbridge Barracks. He fully retired in 1798. In 1809, an uncle passed away, leaving Bensley financially secure. He died in 1817 in Stanmore and is buried there.
Bensley married Francina Augustina Cheston in 1772. They met in Bristol after he accidentally caused her to fall from her horse. They may have had a daughter named Elizabeth.
Bensley's Acting Style
The writer Charles Lamb greatly admired Bensley. Lamb described Bensley's acting as "magnificent" and having a "Spanish loftiness." However, other critics were not always as positive.
Even his supporters admitted Bensley had some challenges as an actor. His eyes and face were not very expressive. His voice was a bit nasal, and his movements could be jerky. These traits made him less suitable for some roles.
But these qualities also helped him in other parts. Bensley was excellent in roles that needed a serious or formal style. He was great at playing loving parents or strict moral figures. By the time he retired, his acting style was considered a bit old-fashioned. Newer actors like Garrick used a more natural style. Garrick even nicknamed Bensley "Roaring Bob."
