Sir Thomas Malory was an English writer, the author of Le Morte d'Arthur, the classic English-language chronicle of the Arthurian legend, compiled and in most cases translated from French sources. The most popular version of Le Morte d'Arthur was published by the famed London printer William Caxton in 1485. Much of Malory's life history is obscure, but he identified himself as a "knight prisoner", apparently reflecting that he was either a criminal, a prisoner-of-war, or suffering some other type of confinement. Malory's identity has never been confirmed. Since modern scholars began researching his identity the most widely accepted candidate has been Sir Thomas Malory of Newbold Revel in Warwickshire, who was imprisoned at various times for criminal acts and possibly also for political reasons during the Wars of the Roses. Recent work by Cecelia Lampp Linton, however, presents new evidence in support of Thomas Malory of Hutton Conyers, Yorkshire.
Sir Thomas Lawrence was an English portrait painter and the fourth president of the Royal Academy. A child prodigy, he was born in Bristol and began drawing in Devizes, where his father was an innkeeper at the Bear Hotel in the Market Square. At age ten, having moved to Bath, he was supporting his family with his pastel portraits. At 18, he went to London and soon established his reputation as a portrait painter in oils, receiving his first royal commission, a portrait of Queen Charlotte, in 1789. He stayed at the top of his profession until his death, aged 60, in 1830.
The School for Scandal is a comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on 8 May 1777.
Sir Henry Herbert was Master of the Revels to both King Charles I and King Charles II, as well as a politician during both reigns.
Charles Kemble was a Welsh-born English actor of a prominent theatre family.
Sir William Beechey was a British portraitist during the golden age of British painting.
Sir Thomas Lake PC was Secretary of State to James I of England. He was a Member of Parliament between 1593 and 1626.
Elizabeth Farren was an Irish actress of the late 18th century. Born in Cork in 1759, her father, George Farren was a surgeon. His drinking habits brought on early death and his widow returned to Liverpool. Her mother went on the stage to support herself and her children. Elizabeth first appeared on the London stage in 1777 as Miss Hardcastle in She Stoops to Conquer and the following year appeared at Drury Lane which, along with the Haymarket Theatre became her primary venues for the rest of her acting career. She had over 100 characters in her repertoire including Shakespeare and various contemporary comedies and dramas. She was often compared to Frances Abington, who was her only real rival. Her last appearance was in April 1797, two months before her marriage to Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby. They had a son and two daughters.
John James Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn (Ire) was an Anglo-Irish peer and politician.
Arthur Saunders Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran, KP, PC (Ire), styled The Honourable Arthur Gore from 1758 to 1762 and Viscount Sudley from 1762 to 1773, was an Irish peer and politician.
Juggernaut is a 1936 British mystery film, starring Boris Karloff and Joan Wyndham. Directed by Henry Edwards, it was based on the novel by Alice Campbell and was distributed by Julius Hagen Productions. It was also known as The Demon Doctor.
Julia Betterton Glover was an Irish-born stage actress well known for her comic roles in the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Alexander Pope was an Irish actor and painter.
Maria Stanhope, Countess of Harrington, better known as Maria Foote, was a British actress and peeress in the nineteenth century.
Speed the Plough is a five-act comedy by Thomas Morton, written in 1798 and first performed in 1800 at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden to great acclaim. It is mostly remembered today for the sake of the unseen character, Mrs Grundy. The original Covent Garden cast included Alexander Pope as Sir Philip Blandford, Charles Murray as Morrington, Joseph Munden as Sir Abel Handy, John Fawcett as Bob Handy, Henry Erskine Johnston as Henry, Thomas Knight as Farmer Ashfield, George Davenport as Evergreen, John Waddy as Gerald, Charles Klanert as Handy's Servant, Mary Ann Davenport as Dame Ashfield and Nannette Johnston as Miss Blandford. The Irish premiere took place at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 21 February 1800.
Louisa, Countess of Craven, originally Louisa Brunton (1782–1860) was an English actress.
Charles Murray (1754–1821) was a Scottish actor and dramatist.
Anthony Leigh was a celebrated English comic actor.
Isabella Mattocks was a British actress and singer.
The WelchHeiress is a 1795 comedy play written by Edward Jerningham. Although it had only a single stage performance, the published script had some success.
