Alfred Dampier

Alfred Dampier (1843 – 23 May 1908) was an English-born actor-manager and playwright, active in Australia.

Dampier was born in Horsham, Sussex, England, the son of John Dampier, builder, and his wife Mary, née Daly. Dampier had a stage career in Manchester before moving to Melbourne, Australia in 1873. Dampier soon formed his own company and often produced plays with an Australian theme. Dampier staged five plays by Francis Rawdon Chesney Hopkins from 1876-82. Dampier adapted For the Term of His Natural Life (1886), Robbery Under Arms (1890) and The Miner's Right (1891).

The two roles Dampier was most associated with in his lifetime was Jean Valjean in Valjean, an adaptation of Les Misérables, and Captain Starlight from Robbery Under Arms.

Dampier died in Paddington, Sydney on 23 May 1908.

Dampier was survived by his wife, one son and two daughters. His daughter Lily Dampier was a noted actor in her own right, and married actor and director Alfred Rolfe, who adapted several of Dampier's plays to the screen.

Lily Dampier died in 1915. Dampier's wife died shortly afterwards from a stroke while touring America with her other daughter Rose and son Fred. Rose Dampier died while on tour in Nebraska in 1919.

Dampier's son Fred was also an actor although he was never has successful as his father, sisters or brother in law. Fred had a secret marriage to another actor, Vera in 1905.

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