Edward Fitzwilliam (1788–1852) was an actor of Irish descent and the husband of noted actress

Fanny Fitzwilliam Frances "Fanny" Elizabeth Fitzwilliam (''née'' Copeland) (26 July 1801 – 11 September 1854) was an English actress. Life She was the actress daughter of Robert Copeland, manager of the Dover theatrical circuit. As "Miss Copeland" she made h ...

. Fitzwilliam was born of Irish parents near Holborn in London on 8 Aug. 1788, In 1806 he was actor and property man with Trotter, manager of the theatres at Southend and Hythe. At Gosport in 1808 he was seen by

Robert Elliston Robert William Elliston (7 April 1774 – 7 July 1831) was an English actor and theatre manager. Life He was born in London, the son of a watchmaker. He was educated at St Paul's School, but ran away from home and made his first appearance on ...

, who engaged him for his theatre at Birmingham. As Hodge in ''Love in a Village'' he made, at the West London Theatre, his first appearance in London. In 1813 he was a leading actor at the Olympic Theatre, under Elliston, with whom he migrated to the

Royal Circus The Surrey Theatre, London began life in 1782 as the Royal Circus and Equestrian Philharmonic Academy, one of the many circuses that provided entertainment of both horsemanship and drama (hippodrama). It stood in Blackfriars Road, near the jun ...

, subsequently known as the Surrey Theatre, his first part at this house being Humphrey Grizzle in ''Three and the Deuce''. Under the management of Thomas Dibdin he rose at this house to the height of his popularity, his best parts being Leporello, Dumbiedykes in the ''Heart of Midlothian'', Patch, Partridge in ''Tom Jones'', and Humphry Clinker. At the Surrey Theatre he met Frances Copeland, whom he married on 2 December 1822. Fitzwilliam — who had once appeared at

Drury Lane Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster. Notable landmarks ...

for the benefit of T. P. Cooke, playing Sancho in ''Lovers' Quarrels'' and singing a song, "Paddy Carey", in which he was very popular — joined the regular company at that house 10 November 1821 as O'Rourke O'Daisy in ''Hit Of Miss''. From this time his reputation dwindled. Padreen Gar in ''Giovanni in Ireland'', Loney Mactwolter in the ''Review'', and other Irish parts were assigned him. After a time he practically forsook the stage and became a comic vocalist at city entertainments. About 1845 he retired on an annuity from the

Drury Lane Theatrical Fund The Drury Lane Theatrical Fund (DLTF) is a benevolent fund for established in 1766 by members of the Theatre Royal in London, England, "for the relief and support of such performers and other persons belonging to the said theater, as, through ag ...

, and died at his house in Regent Street 30 March 1852. In society, in which he was popular, he was known as 'Little Fitz.' He was about 5 ft. 3 in. in height, robustly built, and had a good-humoured characteristically Irish physiognomy.

References

1788 births 1852 deaths English male stage actors Male actors from London People from Holborn 19th-century English male actors {{UK-stage-actor-stub