John Edwin (1749–1790)

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John Edwin (10 August 1749 – 31 October 1790), English actor, was born in London, the son of a watchmaker. He was the long-term companion of the actress Elizabeth Walmesley who acted under the name Mrs. Edwin.

Life[edit]

As a youth, he appeared in the provinces, in minor parts; and at Bath in 1768 he formed a connexion with a Mrs Walmsley, a milliner, who bore him a son, but whom he afterwards deserted. His first London appearance was at the Haymarket in 1776 as Flaw in Samuel Foote's The Cozeners, but when George Colman took over the theatre he was given better parts and became its leading actor. In 1779 he was at Covent Garden, and played there or at the Haymarket until his death.

Ascribed to him are The Last Legacy of John Edwin, 1780; Edwin's Jests and Edwin's Pills to Purge Melancholy.

References[edit]

  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Edwin, John". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  • Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1889). "Edwin, John (1749-1790)" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 17. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  • Enright, Terry. "Edwin, John, the elder (1749–1790)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8570. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Selected roles[edit]

External links[edit]

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