Elizabeth Linley Sheridan

by Kelly McGinty Pictures:

Elizabeth Linley was born September 7, 1754. She was the second of twelves children born to Thomas Linley, the conductor and composer and his wife Mary Johnson. Elizabeth and six of her siblings were destined for musical careers. It is said that Elizabeth possessed the greatest talent and beauty. Elizabeth was trained by her father at an early age.

Elizabeth's first performance was at age twelve, when she and her brother played in The Fairy Favour at Covent Garden Theater January 31, 1767. In May Elizabeth sang and Thomas played the violin in a concert at Bath. They received much encouragement, and their father promised to see to their improvement.

Elizabeth had a reputation in London where concert rooms were readily available to her. Her father had no intention of her making a career in the theater, however, and in 1700 she was forced to promise to marry one Walter Long, after much protest. She explained that she could never marry Long and be happy.

On June 26, 1776, at the Haymarket Theatre a new comedy, called The Maid of Bath, inspired by Elizabeth's story, opened. Elizabeth had many proposals of marriage, but in 1772 she eloped with Richard Brinsley Sheridan. They escaped to France, but since they were underage the marriage was invalid. Elizabeth's last public appearance was April 12, 1773. On April 13, she and Sheridan were officially wed. She suffered many miscarriages because of poor health, but she delivered a son in 1775. She died at Bristol in 1792.

SOURCE: Highfill, Phillip H., Kalman A. Burnim, and Edward A. Langhans. A Biographical Dictonary of Actors...and Other Stage Personnel in London 1660-1800. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1982.

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