Frances Alsop
| Frances Alsop | |
|---|---|
Print portraying Mrs. Frances Alsop, engraved by Alais from an original painting by Rose Emma Drummond, published in London on 1st June 1818 by John Bell, for La Belle Assemblee.
|
|
| Born |
Frances Daly 1 September 1782 |
| Died | 2 June 1821 (aged 38) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Overdose of laudanum |
| Other names | Frances Bettesworh |
| Spouse(s) | Thomas Alsop |
| Parent(s) |
Richard Daly Dorothea Jordan |
Frances Alsop (née Daly; 1 September 1782 – 2 June 1821) was the illegitimate child of Richard Daly (1758–1813), manager of the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, and the actress Dorothea Jordan née Bland (1761–1816).
Frances was born and raised in England, where her mother – adopting the stage name 'Mrs Jordan' – had continued her stage career, which by 1786 led her to be part of London's Drury Lane theatre company. By 1790 Dorothea Jordan was the mistress of the Duke of Clarence (later King William IV of England).
Frances's story begins in earnest in 1803 at her coming-of-age, when she was settled at her own home in Golden Square, London, all paid for by her mother. In 1806 Frances had changed her name to Frances Bettesworh, in order to receive a financial bequest from an elderly and wealthy gentleman of that name; a deal negotiated by her mother. On 1 August 1807 Frances married a Thomas Alsop at St James's Church, Piccadilly, London. He was a clerk of the delivery of small arms in the Ordnance Office.
It seems likely that Frances and Thomas expected a dowry of £10,000, from her mother's connection with the Duke of Clarence, and she and Alsop took up residence at no 11 Park Place (Mayfair). While the precise facts of Frances's dowry are unknown, the marriage was fraught with financial difficulties often caused by Alsop, and debts were usually met by Mrs Jordan. The couple eventually separated, with Alsop having passage arranged to the East Indies, where he died.
It was not until 18 October 1815 that (as Mrs Alsop) Frances first took to the stage, at Covent Garden, in the role of Rosalind in Shakespeare's As You Like It and she was well received. She made her debut at the Drury Lane theatre in January 1817 with equal success, as Donna Violenta in The Wonder (1714) by Susanna Centlivre.
...
Wikipedia