He was born in Hereford, and educated at Hereford grammar school[1] and at Christ's Hospital in London. Sir Robert Ladbrooke, a distiller and then president of Christ's Hospital, took him on as apprentice in his counting-house. Powell, however, was interested in amateur theatricals: Ladbrooke suppressed a club in Doctors' Commons of which Powell had become a member. For a while Powell remained in Ladbrooke's office. Charles Holland however, introduced him to David Garrick, who wanted to travel and sought a substitute actor.[2]
Garrick reappeared in the season of 1765–6, and took over from Powell a few characters; Powell added to his repertory.[5] In 1767 Powell joined Thomas Harris, John Rutherford, and Colman in purchasing John Rich's patents for Covent Garden Theatre. Powell was at this time bound for three years to Drury Lane under a penalty of £1,000, while his borrowed share of the purchase-money was £15,000.[2]
BristolEdit
Powell became a favourite in Bristol, where, at the Jacob's Well Theatre, on 13 August 1764, he took his first benefit as King Lear. On the erection of the King Street Theatre, the foundation-stone of which was laid on 30 November 1764, Powell became associated with two local men, Arthur and Clarke. The lease of the theatre was for seven years. On 30 May 1766 it opened with The Conscious Lovers, given gratis since the license had not yet been obtained, with Powell as Young Bevil. The Citizen (Arthur Murphy) with James William Dodd was also given. A prologue, written by Garrick, was spoken by Powell.[2]
At Covent GardenEdit
William Powell as Hamlet encountering the Ghost, c. 1768–1769, by Benjamin Wilson.
On the opening night Powell spoke, 14 September 1767, a rhymed prologue by William Whitehead, and on the 16th played Jaffier in Venice Preserved.[6] Powell lived at this time in a house adjoining the theatre, and provided with a direct access. In the fierce quarrel which broke out during the season among the managers, leading to legal proceedings and a fierce polemic, Powell sided with George Colman, whom he had brought into the association, against Harris and Rutherford.[7] On the closing night of the season, 26 May 1769, he played Cyrus in John Hoole's play of the name, which was his last appearance in London.[2]
DeathEdit
On 31 May 1769 Powell made, as Jaffier, his last appearance on the stage, in Bristol at the King Street Theatre. The following day he caught cold, playing cricket. His illness became severe, and King Street, in which, near the theatre, he lived, was barred by chains against carriages, by order of the magistrates. On Friday, at the request of his family and physician, the performances were suspended to avoid disturbing him, and on Monday, 3 July, at seven in the morning, he died. ‘Richard III’ was given that evening, and Holland, then manager, had to apologise for the inability of the actors to play their parts. The audience voluntarily dispensed with the closing farce.[2]
Powell was buried on the following Thursday in Bristol Cathedral, Colman, Holland, and Clarke, with all the performers of the theatre, attending the funeral, which was conducted by the dean. An anthem was sung by the choir. On 14 July The Roman Father was performed in Bristol for the benefit of Powell's family, most of the audience appearing in black. An address by Colman was spoken by Holland, who did not long survive. A monument in the north aisle of the cathedral, erected by his widow, has an epitaph, also by Colman.[2]
FamilyEdit
Once out of his indentures, Powell married, in 1759, a Miss Branston. Powell's wife made a début as Ophelia in Bristol in July 1766, but did not reach London. Widowed, she married again, in September 1771, John Abraham Fisher. Miss E. Powell appeared in Ireland, where she married H. P. Warren, an actor, and died as Mrs. Martindale in King Street, Covent Garden, in 1821. Another daughter married Mr. White, clerk of the House of Commons, and left daughters who were shareholders in Covent Garden Theatre.[2]
NotesEdit
^Tomlinson, Howard (2018). Hereford Cathedral School : a history over 800 years. Herefordshire. p. 601. ISBN1-910839-23-X. OCLC 1030612754.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^In the season of 1764–5 Powell was seen as Lothario in The Fair Penitent, Orestes, King Lear, Herod in Mariamne, and Leontes; and played on 24 January 1765 the first of his few original parts as Lord Frankland in The Platonic Wife of Elizabeth Griffith.
^Moneses in Tamerlane (Nicholas Rowe), Alcanor in Mahomet , King John, and Antony in All for Love; played either Agamemnon or Achilles in Heroic Love (George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne), and was on 20 February 1766 the original Lovewell in The Clandestine Marriage. The following season, his last at Drury Lane, saw Powell as Phocyas in the Siege of Damascus (Colman the elder), Jason in Medea, and some character, presumed to be Don Pedro, in The False Friend (Vanburgh). Powell played also three original parts: King Edward in Thomas Francklin's Earl of Warwick, 13 December 1766; Lord Falbridge in Colman's The English Merchant, 21 February 1767; and Æneas in Joseph Reed's Dido.
^His new characters were Chorus in King Henry V, Romeo, Sir William Douglas in the English Merchant, Hastings, Sciolto in The Fair Penitent, George Barnwell in The London Merchant, Oakly, Bajazet, Horatius in the Roman Father, Don Felix in The Wonder (Susanna Centlivre), Macbeth, and Hamlet; and he was on 29 January 1768 the original Honeywood in The Good-natured Man.
^In his last season he played Ford in the Merry Wives of Windsor, Alwin in The Countess of Salisbury (Hall Hartson), Young Bevil in Conscious Lovers, and was, 3 December 1768, the original Cyrus in John Hoole's play of the name; and, 18 January 1769, the original Courteney in Charlotte Lennox's The Sister.
william, powell, english, actor, william, powell, 1735, 1769, english, actor, william, powell, 1769, engraving, john, dixon, after, thomas, lawransoncontents, early, life, drury, lane, bristol, covent, garden, death, family, notes, external, linksearly, life, . William Powell 1735 1769 was an English actor William Powell 1769 engraving by John Dixon after Thomas LawransonContents 1 Early life 2 At Drury Lane 3 Bristol 4 At Covent Garden 5 Death 6 Family 7 Notes 8 External linksEarly life EditHe was born in Hereford and educated at Hereford grammar school 1 and at Christ s Hospital in London Sir Robert Ladbrooke a distiller and then president of Christ s Hospital took him on as apprentice in his counting house Powell however was interested in amateur theatricals Ladbrooke suppressed a club in Doctors Commons of which Powell had become a member For a while Powell remained in Ladbrooke s office Charles Holland however introduced him to David Garrick who wanted to travel and sought a substitute actor 2 At Drury Lane EditCarefully coached by Garrick Powell made his first appearance on stage at Drury Lane Theatre on 8 October 1763 as Philaster in an adaptation of Beaumont and Fletcher s play by George Colman the Elder Supported also by James Lacy Powell made a success 3 The ticket receipts were up to the best Garrick days 2 4 Garrick reappeared in the season of 1765 6 and took over from Powell a few characters Powell added to his repertory 5 In 1767 Powell joined Thomas Harris John Rutherford and Colman in purchasing John Rich s patents for Covent Garden Theatre Powell was at this time bound for three years to Drury Lane under a penalty of 1 000 while his borrowed share of the purchase money was 15 000 2 Bristol EditPowell became a favourite in Bristol where at the Jacob s Well Theatre on 13 August 1764 he took his first benefit as King Lear On the erection of the King Street Theatre the foundation stone of which was laid on 30 November 1764 Powell became associated with two local men Arthur and Clarke The lease of the theatre was for seven years On 30 May 1766 it opened with The Conscious Lovers given gratis since the license had not yet been obtained with Powell as Young Bevil The Citizen Arthur Murphy with James William Dodd was also given A prologue written by Garrick was spoken by Powell 2 At Covent Garden Edit William Powell as Hamlet encountering the Ghost c 1768 1769 by Benjamin Wilson On the opening night Powell spoke 14 September 1767 a rhymed prologue by William Whitehead and on the 16th played Jaffier in Venice Preserved 6 Powell lived at this time in a house adjoining the theatre and provided with a direct access In the fierce quarrel which broke out during the season among the managers leading to legal proceedings and a fierce polemic Powell sided with George Colman whom he had brought into the association against Harris and Rutherford 7 On the closing night of the season 26 May 1769 he played Cyrus in John Hoole s play of the name which was his last appearance in London 2 Death EditOn 31 May 1769 Powell made as Jaffier his last appearance on the stage in Bristol at the King Street Theatre The following day he caught cold playing cricket His illness became severe and King Street in which near the theatre he lived was barred by chains against carriages by order of the magistrates On Friday at the request of his family and physician the performances were suspended to avoid disturbing him and on Monday 3 July at seven in the morning he died Richard III was given that evening and Holland then manager had to apologise for the inability of the actors to play their parts The audience voluntarily dispensed with the closing farce 2 Powell was buried on the following Thursday in Bristol Cathedral Colman Holland and Clarke with all the performers of the theatre attending the funeral which was conducted by the dean An anthem was sung by the choir On 14 July The Roman Father was performed in Bristol for the benefit of Powell s family most of the audience appearing in black An address by Colman was spoken by Holland who did not long survive A monument in the north aisle of the cathedral erected by his widow has an epitaph also by Colman 2 Family EditOnce out of his indentures Powell married in 1759 a Miss Branston Powell s wife made a debut as Ophelia in Bristol in July 1766 but did not reach London Widowed she married again in September 1771 John Abraham Fisher Miss E Powell appeared in Ireland where she married H P Warren an actor and died as Mrs Martindale in King Street Covent Garden in 1821 Another daughter married Mr White clerk of the House of Commons and left daughters who were shareholders in Covent Garden Theatre 2 Notes Edit Tomlinson Howard 2018 Hereford Cathedral School a history over 800 years Herefordshire p 601 ISBN 1 910839 23 X OCLC 1030612754 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link a b c d e f g h Lee Sidney ed 1896 Powell William 1735 1769 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 46 London Smith Elder amp Co Powell played during his first season Jaffier in Venice Preserved Posthumus Lusignan the king in the Second Part of King Henry IV Castalio in The Orphan Thomas Otway Lord Townly in The Provoked Husband John Vanburgh and Colley Cibber Alexander the Great Publius Horatius in The Roman Father William Whitehead Othello Etan in The Orphan of China Voltaire Sir Charles Raymond in The Foundling Edward Moore Dumont Shore in Jane Shore Nicholas Rowe Leon in Rule a Wife and Have a Wife Oroonoko in Aphra Behn s play of the name Henry VI in Richard III and Ghost in Hamlet In the season of 1764 5 Powell was seen as Lothario in The Fair Penitent Orestes King Lear Herod in Mariamne and Leontes and played on 24 January 1765 the first of his few original parts as Lord Frankland in The Platonic Wife of Elizabeth Griffith Moneses in Tamerlane Nicholas Rowe Alcanor in Mahomet King John and Antony in All for Love played either Agamemnon or Achilles in Heroic Love George Granville 1st Baron Lansdowne and was on 20 February 1766 the original Lovewell in The Clandestine Marriage The following season his last at Drury Lane saw Powell as Phocyas in the Siege of Damascus Colman the elder Jason in Medea and some character presumed to be Don Pedro in The False Friend Vanburgh Powell played also three original parts King Edward in Thomas Francklin s Earl of Warwick 13 December 1766 Lord Falbridge in Colman s The English Merchant 21 February 1767 and AEneas in Joseph Reed s Dido His new characters were Chorus in King Henry V Romeo Sir William Douglas in the English Merchant Hastings Sciolto in The Fair Penitent George Barnwell in The London Merchant Oakly Bajazet Horatius in the Roman Father Don Felix in The Wonder Susanna Centlivre Macbeth and Hamlet and he was on 29 January 1768 the original Honeywood in The Good natured Man In his last season he played Ford in the Merry Wives of Windsor Alwin in The Countess of Salisbury Hall Hartson Young Bevil in Conscious Lovers and was 3 December 1768 the original Cyrus in John Hoole s play of the name and 18 January 1769 the original Courteney in Charlotte Lennox s The Sister Attribution This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lee Sidney ed 1896 Powell William 1735 1769 Dictionary of National Biography Vol 46 London Smith Elder amp Co External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Powell English actor Portraits of William Powell at the National Portrait Gallery London Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Powell English actor amp oldid 1127516981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
