Thomas Knight (actor) facts for kids

Thomas Knight (died 1820) was a talented English actor and playwright. He was also a theatre manager. Thomas Knight was born in Dorset, England, into a family that wasn't very rich. He became famous for his acting skills and for writing plays that were enjoyed by many people.

Becoming an Actor: Thomas Knight's Early Career

Thomas Knight was first meant to study law. However, he loved the theatre! He took acting lessons from a famous actor named Charles Macklin. Thomas spent a lot of time with Macklin at the theatre. This made him want to become an actor himself.

His first attempt at acting was at the Richmond Theatre, but it didn't go well. After this, he joined a different acting group in Lancaster. Later, another theatre manager, Tate Wilkinson, saw Thomas Knight and hired him for his theatre group in York.

Thomas first appeared in York in 1782. Wilkinson was not impressed at first and even told him to quit acting! But Thomas didn't give up. He kept working hard, playing different characters, and slowly became more popular with the audience. Wilkinson later admitted he was wrong about Thomas. Thomas stayed with this group for five years, becoming a leading actor.

In 1787, Thomas Knight started performing at the Bath Theatre. He played many different roles there, showing how versatile he was.

Thomas Knight's Marriage and Family Life

In 1787, Thomas Knight married Margaret Farren in Bath. Margaret was also an actress and the sister of a very famous actress, Elizabeth Farren.

Margaret had acted with Thomas in York before they got married. After their wedding, she made her first appearance in Bath. Over the next nine years in Bath and Bristol, Thomas played many funny characters. These included famous roles like Charles Surface and Mercutio.

Thomas Knight's Time at Covent Garden Theatre

Thomas Knight first performed at the famous Covent Garden theatre in London on September 25, 1795. His wife, Margaret, also acted with him there.

At Covent Garden, Thomas played a huge number of roles. Some of his most well-known characters included Sim in Wild Oats, Bob Acres, and Tony Lumpkin. He also created new characters in plays written by other playwrights, such as Farmer Ashfield in Speed the Plough.

After acting at Covent Garden for three years, Thomas and Margaret went to Edinburgh to perform. Sadly, Margaret Knight died in Bath in 1804.

Managing Theatres: Thomas Knight's Business Ventures

Thomas Knight also became a theatre manager. In 1803, he and a partner named Lewis took over the lease of the Liverpool Theatre. The rent was quite high, but they opened the theatre on June 6, 1803, with popular plays.

Thomas continued to act at Covent Garden during this time. His last performance there was on May 15, 1804. He played Farmer Ashfield, a role he was very famous for.

While managing the Liverpool Theatre, Thomas lived in different places, including Norton Hall and Woore. In 1817, he got a new lease for the Liverpool Theatre with new partners. He also became involved in managing the Manchester Theatre. Thomas Knight passed away suddenly on February 4, 1820, at his home in Woore.

Thomas Knight's Plays and Writings

Thomas Knight was not just an actor; he was also a writer! He wrote several plays himself.

• One of his plays, Honest Thieves, was a shorter version of an older play. It was performed at Covent Garden in 1797.
• His most famous play was a funny show called The Turnpike Gate. It was first performed in 1799 and was very popular. It was printed many times and stayed on stage for a long time. Another actor, Munden, became very famous for his role as Crack in this play.
• Thomas Knight also wrote some poems and funny songs.

This playbill from 1797 shows The Mask'd Friend, a play that some people believe Thomas Knight helped to write. He and his wife performed in it.

Thomas Knight's Impact and Legacy

Thomas Knight was known as an excellent actor and a good person. He lived comfortably and spent time with smart people, including scientists and writers. He managed to save enough money to live independently, and he also received money from an uncle.

He was described as having a light and graceful build, a pleasant voice, and a lot of common sense. Some of his most celebrated roles were Jacob Gawkey, Count Cassel, and Farmer Ashfield. He was also praised for his performance as Master Stephen in Ben Jonson's play Every Man in his Humour.

Later in his life, Thomas Knight lived like a country gentleman. He was known for being very generous. There are several paintings of him, including one by Zoffany, which can be seen at the Garrick Club.