William Dowton
Encyclopedia
William Dowton was a British
actor
.
at Exeter
, was born in that city on April 25, 1764. At an early age he worked with a marble cutter
, but in 1780 was articled to an architect
. During his apprenticeship
he occasionally performed at a private theatre in Exeter, when the applause he obtained prompted him to run away from home and join a company of strolling players at Ashburton
, where, in 1781, he made his appearance in a barn as Carlos in Revenge.
; he then (September 1791) joined Mrs. Baker's company in Kent
. Here he changed his line of acting, and took the characters of La Gloire, Jemmy Jumps, Billy Bristle, Sir David Dunder, and Peeping Tom
, in all of which he was well received by a Canterbury
audience. He made his first appearance in London
at Drury Lane
under Wroughton's management as Sheva in Cumberland's comedy of the Jew, on 11 Oct. 1796, and was received with much applause.
No man on the stage was more versatile at this period of his career. His personation of Sir Hugh Evans in the Merry Wives of Windsor was excellent. He was considered the best representative of Malvolio
on the English
stage. He played with great success Mr. Hardcastle in She stoops to conquer
, Clod in Young Quaker, Rupert in Jealous Wife, Sir Anthony Absolute in The Rivals
, Major Sturgeon in The Mayor of Garrett, Governor Heartall in The Soldier's Daughter, and Dr. Cantwell in The Hypocrite at the Lyceum on 23 Jan. 1810. As Charles Lamb, William Hazlitt and James Leigh Hunt record in many reviews, he excelled in the roles of peppery old buffers - apparently offstage as well as on; he was known for throwing his wig into the fire in a rage, and according to an old edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
was referred to personally as Sir Anthony Absolute.
He continued at Drury Lane for many years, playing at the Haymarket Theatre
in the summer months. At one of his benefits at the latter house, 15 Aug. 1805, he revived the burlesque of The Tailors, at which the Tailors' Guild, expecting to be unsympathetically portrayed by a comedian, turned out armed with scissors and started a riot. Dowton is said to have faced them down with a sword preserved at the Haymarket for years after, and the troops were called in to restore order.(Morning Chronicle
, 16 Aug. 1805, p. 4). On 5 Oct. 1815 he played Shylock
at Drury Lane at the desire, as it was stated, of Lord Byron,who was then also attached to this theatre - and certainly mentions in an extant letter that he was looking forward to Dowton's performance. The public generally was less impressed: like many comic actors entrusted for once with a potentially tragic role Dowton seized the opportunity, and his performance included a final fainting-fit when Shylock is ordered to become a Christian - a detail that has occasionally been echoed in more recent productions (John Woodvine's Shylock for the English Shakespeare Company in the 1980s suffered a heart attack at the same point, for instance), but was grudgingly received by a Regency audience expecting the standard anti-Semitic caricature with undertones of Sir Anthony Absolute.
Dowton then appeared at Drury Lane on 1 June 1830 as Falstaff, for the benefit of Miss Catherine Stephens. He was depicted playing this role by the artist Robert Buss and others, two of Buss's sketches being now hung in the Garrick Club. He was afterwards manager of theatres at Canterbury and Maidstone
, but these he finally transferred to his son, and confined himself to acting. He gave evidence before the committee on dramatic literature in August 1832 (Report 1832, No. 679, pp. 89–92 in Parliamentary Papers, vol. vii. 1831–2).
In 1836 he went to America
, and made his first appearance in New York City
at the Park Theatre
on 2 June in his favourite character of Falstaff
. During this engagement his representations were confined exclusively to elderly characters. His quiet and natural style of acting was not at first understood by his audiences, and just as they were beginning to appreciate his talent and abilities he resolved on returning home, and took his farewell benefit on 23 Nov. 1836. His salary at Drury Lane, where he played for thirty-six years, in 1801–2 was 8l. a week, and it never exceeded 20l. at the height of his fame.
In his old age, having neglected the advantages offered by the Drury Lane Theatrical Fund
, he became destitute, and would have been in absolute want but for a benefit at Her Majesty's Theatre 8 June 1840, when Colman's Poor Gentleman was played with an excellent cast, in which he himself took the part of Sir Robert Bramble. With the proceeds of this benefit an annuity was purchased, which partly provided for his declining days.
Dowton's eldest son, William Dowton, was manager of the Kent circuit 1815–35; made his appearance in London at Drury Lane 3 Dec. 1832 as Tangent; was afterwards a brother of the Charterhouse for thirty-seven years; died there 19 Sept. 1883, when nearly ninety years of age, and was buried at Bow 24 Sept. Another son, Henry Dowton, born in 1798, performed Liston's line of parts inimitably, but died young. He married Miss Whitaker, an actress, who after his decease became the wife of John Sloman, an actor. She died at Charleston, South Carolina
, 7 Feb. 1858.
He enjoyed good health to the last, and died at Brixton Terrace, Brixton
, Surrey
, 19 April 1851, in his eighty-eighth year.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Early life
Dowton, the son of an innkeeper and grocerGrocer
A grocer is a bulk seller of food. Beginning as early as the 14th century, a grocer was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices, pepper, sugar, and cocoa, tea and coffee...
at Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, was born in that city on April 25, 1764. At an early age he worked with a marble cutter
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
, but in 1780 was articled to an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. During his apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
he occasionally performed at a private theatre in Exeter, when the applause he obtained prompted him to run away from home and join a company of strolling players at Ashburton
Ashburton, Devon
Ashburton is a small town on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, adjacent to the A38 Devon Expressway.It was formerly important as a stannary town , and remains the largest town within the National Park, with a population of around 3,500...
, where, in 1781, he made his appearance in a barn as Carlos in Revenge.
Career
After enduring many hardships he was engaged by Hughes, manager of the Weymouth theatre, and thence returned to Exeter, where he played Macbeth and RomeoRomeo Montague
Romeo is one of the fictional protagonists in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is the son of old Montague and his wife, who secretly loves and marries Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet...
; he then (September 1791) joined Mrs. Baker's company in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Here he changed his line of acting, and took the characters of La Gloire, Jemmy Jumps, Billy Bristle, Sir David Dunder, and Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom
Peeping Tom is a nickname commonly given to voyeurs, particularly males. It originated with the legend of Lady Godiva, when a man named Tom watched her during her nude ride and was struck blind or dead.It may also refer to:In music...
, in all of which he was well received by a Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
audience. He made his first appearance in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at Drury Lane
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
under Wroughton's management as Sheva in Cumberland's comedy of the Jew, on 11 Oct. 1796, and was received with much applause.
No man on the stage was more versatile at this period of his career. His personation of Sir Hugh Evans in the Merry Wives of Windsor was excellent. He was considered the best representative of Malvolio
Malvolio
Malvolio is the steward of Olivia's household in William Shakespeare's comedy, Twelfth Night, or What You Will.-Style:Malvolio's ethical values are commonly used to define his appearance.In the play, Malvolio is defined as a "kind of" Puritan...
on the English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
stage. He played with great success Mr. Hardcastle in She stoops to conquer
She Stoops to Conquer
She Stoops to Conquer is a comedy by the Irish author Oliver Goldsmith, son of an Anglo-Irish vicar, first performed in London in 1773. The play is a great favourite for study by English literature and theatre classes in Britain and the United States. It is one of the few plays from the 18th...
, Clod in Young Quaker, Rupert in Jealous Wife, Sir Anthony Absolute in The Rivals
The Rivals
The Rivals, a play by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, is a comedy of manners in five acts. It was first performed on 17 January 1775.- Production :...
, Major Sturgeon in The Mayor of Garrett, Governor Heartall in The Soldier's Daughter, and Dr. Cantwell in The Hypocrite at the Lyceum on 23 Jan. 1810. As Charles Lamb, William Hazlitt and James Leigh Hunt record in many reviews, he excelled in the roles of peppery old buffers - apparently offstage as well as on; he was known for throwing his wig into the fire in a rage, and according to an old edition of Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, sometimes referred to simply as Brewer's, is a reference work containing definitions and explanations of many famous phrases, allusions and figures, whether historical or mythical.-History:...
was referred to personally as Sir Anthony Absolute.
He continued at Drury Lane for many years, playing at the Haymarket Theatre
Haymarket Theatre
The Theatre Royal Haymarket is a West End theatre in the Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use...
in the summer months. At one of his benefits at the latter house, 15 Aug. 1805, he revived the burlesque of The Tailors, at which the Tailors' Guild, expecting to be unsympathetically portrayed by a comedian, turned out armed with scissors and started a riot. Dowton is said to have faced them down with a sword preserved at the Haymarket for years after, and the troops were called in to restore order.(Morning Chronicle
Morning Chronicle
The Morning Chronicle was a newspaper founded in 1769 in London, England, and published under various owners until 1862. It was most notable for having been the first employer of Charles Dickens, and for publishing the articles by Henry Mayhew which were collected and published in book format in...
, 16 Aug. 1805, p. 4). On 5 Oct. 1815 he played Shylock
Shylock
Shylock is a fictional character in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.-In the play:In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is a Jewish moneylender who lends money to his Christian rival, Antonio, setting the security at a pound of Antonio's flesh...
at Drury Lane at the desire, as it was stated, of Lord Byron,who was then also attached to this theatre - and certainly mentions in an extant letter that he was looking forward to Dowton's performance. The public generally was less impressed: like many comic actors entrusted for once with a potentially tragic role Dowton seized the opportunity, and his performance included a final fainting-fit when Shylock is ordered to become a Christian - a detail that has occasionally been echoed in more recent productions (John Woodvine's Shylock for the English Shakespeare Company in the 1980s suffered a heart attack at the same point, for instance), but was grudgingly received by a Regency audience expecting the standard anti-Semitic caricature with undertones of Sir Anthony Absolute.
Dowton then appeared at Drury Lane on 1 June 1830 as Falstaff, for the benefit of Miss Catherine Stephens. He was depicted playing this role by the artist Robert Buss and others, two of Buss's sketches being now hung in the Garrick Club. He was afterwards manager of theatres at Canterbury and Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
, but these he finally transferred to his son, and confined himself to acting. He gave evidence before the committee on dramatic literature in August 1832 (Report 1832, No. 679, pp. 89–92 in Parliamentary Papers, vol. vii. 1831–2).
In 1836 he went to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and made his first appearance in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the Park Theatre
Park Theatre (Manhattan)
The Park Theatre, originally known as the New Theatre, was a playhouse in New York City, located at 21, 23, and 25 Park Row, about east of Ann Street and backing Theatre Alley. The location, at the north end of the city, overlooked the park that would soon house City Hall...
on 2 June in his favourite character of Falstaff
Falstaff
Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare. In the two Henry IV plays, he is a companion to Prince Hal, the future King Henry V. A fat, vain, boastful, and cowardly knight, Falstaff leads the apparently wayward Prince Hal into trouble, and is...
. During this engagement his representations were confined exclusively to elderly characters. His quiet and natural style of acting was not at first understood by his audiences, and just as they were beginning to appreciate his talent and abilities he resolved on returning home, and took his farewell benefit on 23 Nov. 1836. His salary at Drury Lane, where he played for thirty-six years, in 1801–2 was 8l. a week, and it never exceeded 20l. at the height of his fame.
In his old age, having neglected the advantages offered by the Drury Lane Theatrical Fund
Drury Lane Theatrical Fund
The Drury Lane Theatrical Fund is a benevolent fund for established in 1766 by members of the Theatre Royal in London, England, "for the relief and support of such performers and other persons belonging to the said theater, as, through age, infirmity, or accident, should be obliged to retire from...
, he became destitute, and would have been in absolute want but for a benefit at Her Majesty's Theatre 8 June 1840, when Colman's Poor Gentleman was played with an excellent cast, in which he himself took the part of Sir Robert Bramble. With the proceeds of this benefit an annuity was purchased, which partly provided for his declining days.
Personal life
He married about 1793 Miss S. Baker, an actress and singer on the Canterbury circuit.Dowton's eldest son, William Dowton, was manager of the Kent circuit 1815–35; made his appearance in London at Drury Lane 3 Dec. 1832 as Tangent; was afterwards a brother of the Charterhouse for thirty-seven years; died there 19 Sept. 1883, when nearly ninety years of age, and was buried at Bow 24 Sept. Another son, Henry Dowton, born in 1798, performed Liston's line of parts inimitably, but died young. He married Miss Whitaker, an actress, who after his decease became the wife of John Sloman, an actor. She died at Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, 7 Feb. 1858.
He enjoyed good health to the last, and died at Brixton Terrace, Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, 19 April 1851, in his eighty-eighth year.