William Keasberry
Encyclopedia
William Keasberry sometimes spelt Keasbury, was an English actor and theatre manager of the 18th century whose career was chiefly in Bath, Somerset.
The son of another William Keasberry, by his marriage to Catherine Liddell, he was born in London.
Keasberry was "brought up to the china business in London", but took instead to "the more alluring profession of the stage". He joined the Edinburgh theatre in 1755, and from 1757 to 1795 was associated with the Orchard Street Theatre
, Bath, as both actor and manager, taking over as manager in 1760. Outside Bath, he also acted in Bristol
, London, and Richmond.
In 1760, Keasberry and Richard Griffith established a temporary theatre at Winchester
"in consequence of a Camp consisting of eight regiments".
On 30 August 1773, at New Brentford, Middlesex
, Keasberry married Henrietta Hamilton (1737–1812), a member of a family of actors. They had several children, William (1760–1797), John Palmer (1773–1840), Catherine Liddell (1763–1845), Henrietta (1768–1797), Julia Maria (1769–1849), and Henry Edward (1771–1847).
At the time of his death, Keasberry was described in a brief obituary
as "Mr. William Keasbury, in his 71st year, formerly an actor, and late one of the joint patentees and managers of the Bath Theatre."
He was buried at St Thomas à Becket's church, Widcombe
, Bath.
The son of another William Keasberry, by his marriage to Catherine Liddell, he was born in London.
Keasberry was "brought up to the china business in London", but took instead to "the more alluring profession of the stage". He joined the Edinburgh theatre in 1755, and from 1757 to 1795 was associated with the Orchard Street Theatre
Old Orchard Street Theatre
The Old Orchard Street Theatre in Bath, Somerset, England was built as a provincial theatre before becoming a Roman Catholic Church and since 1865 has been a Masonic Hall. It is a Grade II listed building.-Theatre:In 1705 the first theatre opened in Bath...
, Bath, as both actor and manager, taking over as manager in 1760. Outside Bath, he also acted in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, London, and Richmond.
In 1760, Keasberry and Richard Griffith established a temporary theatre at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
"in consequence of a Camp consisting of eight regiments".
On 30 August 1773, at New Brentford, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, Keasberry married Henrietta Hamilton (1737–1812), a member of a family of actors. They had several children, William (1760–1797), John Palmer (1773–1840), Catherine Liddell (1763–1845), Henrietta (1768–1797), Julia Maria (1769–1849), and Henry Edward (1771–1847).
At the time of his death, Keasberry was described in a brief obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
as "Mr. William Keasbury, in his 71st year, formerly an actor, and late one of the joint patentees and managers of the Bath Theatre."
He was buried at St Thomas à Becket's church, Widcombe
Widcombe, Bath
Widcombe is a district of Bath, England, immediately south-east of the city centre, across the River Avon.Widcombe was part of the hundred of Bath Forum.Widcombe Manor House is a grade I listed manor house built in 1656...
, Bath.