Elizabeth Fitzhenry

Elizabeth Fitzhenry (died 1790?), original name Elizabeth Flannigan, was an Irish actress.[1]

Biography

The daughter of the keeper of the old Ferry Boat tavern, Abbey Street, Dublin, she married a lodger in his house, a Captain Gregory, commander of a vessel engaged in the trade between Dublin and Bordeaux. After the death by drowning of her husband, followed by the death of her father, she went to London in 1753. She became an actress first under the name of Mrs Gregory, and then as Mrs Fitzhenry after her second marriage to Edward Fitzhenry, an Irish barrister, with whom she had two children. Edward practised law at the Inner Temple, London. He died in 1772.

Around 1774, she retired from acting to live with her children. She may have returned to the stage about 1782-3, and acted successfully many of her old parts. She then finally retired, and is said to have died at Bath, Somerset in 1790. The date and place are doubted by John Genest, a resident in Bath, who thinks there is a confusion between her and Mrs. Fitzmaurice, who died in Bath about the same time. The monthly obituary of the 'European Magazine' for November and December 1790 says : '11 Dec. Lately in Ireland, Mrs. Fitzhenry, a celebrated actress.'

Stage career

As Mrs Gregory Covent Garden Theatre, London

  • 10 January 1754 - Hermione in the 'Distressed Mother','her first appearance upon any stage.'
  • 23 March 1754 Alicia in 'Jane Shore'

Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, under Sowdon and Victor at a salary of 300l., soon raised to 400l.

  • January 1755 - Hermione
  • 14 March 1755 - Zara in the Mourning Bride
  • 2 February 1756 - Zaphira in Barbarossa
  • Volumnia in 'Coriolanus'

Covent Garden, London

As Mrs Fitzhenry Dublin

References
  1. Cave, Richard Allen. "Fitzhenry, Elizabeth". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9600. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Fitzhenry, Mrs.". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

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