Jane Pope (1744 – 30 July 1818) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

actress.

Life

Pope was the daughter William and Susanna Pope. Her father was a London theatrical

wig-maker A wig is a head or hair accessory made from human hair, animal hair, or synthetic fiber. The word wig is short for periwig, which makes its earliest known appearance in the English language in William Shakespeare's ''The Two Gentlemen of Verona' ...

for the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...

. (There has been confusion over her date of birth with different authorities giving 1742 and 1744, but in a letter from Jane Pope of 1808 she states her age as 64.) Pope had three brothers and she spent her life living with her sister who was named after their mother. Neither of them married. As a child Pope and her brother were recruited as child extras for a Lilliputian production for

Garrick Garrick may refer to: * Garrick (name), for the name's origin and people with either the surname or given name, the most famous being: ** David Garrick (1717–1779), English actor * Garrick Club, a London gentlemen's club named in honour of David ...

in 1756. From this she speedily developed into

soubrette A soubrette is a type of operatic soprano voice ''fach'', often cast as a female stock character in opera and theatre. The term arrived in English from Provençal via French, and means "conceited" or "coy". Theatre In theatre, a soubrette is a c ...

roles. Pope had a dispute with Garrick over whether she was worth eight or ten pounds a week. She left his company but returned when he offered to reemploy her and Pope agreed to eight pounds. She was Mrs Candour in ''

The School for Scandal ''The School for Scandal'' is a comedy of manners written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It was first performed in London at Drury Lane Theatre on 8 May 1777. Plot Act I Scene I: Lady Sneerwell, a wealthy young widow, and her hireling Sna ...

'' at its first presentation (1777). There is a painting of Jane Pope by James Roberts in the role of Mrs Page in the

Merry Wives of Windsor ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' or ''Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597. The Windsor of the play's title is a ref ...

. She played Mrs Page at Drury Lane in several performances in February to April 1778. Pope was a lifelong friend of

Mrs Clive Catherine Clive (née Raftor; 5 November 1711 – 6 December 1785) Catherine ‘Kitty’ Clive (1711-1785, active 1728-1769) was a first songster and star comedienne of British playhouse entertainment. Clive led and created new forms of English ...

, and erected the monument at

Twickenham Twickenham is a suburban district in London, England. It is situated on the River Thames southwest of Charing Cross. Historically part of Middlesex, it has formed part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames since 1965, and the boroug ...

to the latter's memory. She retired from the professional stage at a special performance 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 ...

on 26 May 1808. She was an admirable actress and was praised by all the literary critics of her day unused to such a combination.

Selected roles

* Lady Flutter in '' The Discovery'' by

Frances Sheridan Frances Sheridan (''née'' Chamberlaine) (1724 – 26 September 1766) was an Anglo-Irish novelist and playwright. Life Frances Chamberlaine was born in Dublin, Ireland. Her father, Dr. Phillip Chamberlaine, was an Anglican minister. In 1747 ...

(1763) * Mrs Candour in ''

'' by

Richard Brinsley Sheridan Richard Brinsley Butler Sheridan (30 October 17517 July 1816) was an Irish satirist, a politician, a playwright, poet, and long-term owner of the London Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He is known for his plays such as ''The Rivals'', ''The Sc ...

(1777) * Miss Phoebe Latimer in '' The Natural Son'' by

Richard Cumberland Richard Cumberland may refer to: * Richard Cumberland (philosopher) (1631–1718), bishop, philosopher * Richard Cumberland (dramatist) (1732–1811), civil servant, dramatist * Richard Cumberland (priest) (1710–1737), Archdeacon of Northa ...

(1784) * Mrs Alscrip in ''

The Heiress ''The Heiress'' is a 1949 American romantic drama film directed and produced by William Wyler, from a screenplay written by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, adapted from their 1947 stage play of the same title, which was itself adapted from Henry James ...

'' by

John Burgoyne General John Burgoyne (24 February 1722 – 4 August 1792) was a British general, dramatist and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1761 to 1792. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several batt ...

(1786) * Mrs Modely in ''

Seduction Seduction has multiple meanings. Platonically, it can mean "to persuade to disobedience or disloyalty", or "to lead astray, usually by persuasion or false promises". Strategies of seduction include conversation and sexual scripts, paralingual ...

'' by

Thomas Holcroft Thomas Holcroft (10 December 174523 March 1809) was an English dramatist, miscellanist, poet and translator. He was sympathetic to the early ideas of the French Revolution and helped Thomas Paine to publish the first part of ''The Rights of Man ...

(1787) * Mrs Dorothy in ''

The Impostors ''The Impostors'' is a 1998 American farce film, motion picture directed, written and produced by Stanley Tucci, starring Oliver Platt, Tucci, Alfred Molina, Tony Shalhoub, Steve Buscemi, and Billy Connolly. The film, in which Oliver Platt and S ...

'' by

(1789) * Mrs Dorville in '' The German Hotel'' by

(1790) * Lady Fancourt in '' Love's Frailties'' by

(1794) * Lady Horatia Horton in '' The Town Before You'' by Hannah Cowley (1794) * Lady Anne in '' The Deserted Daughter'' by

(1795) * Lady Plinlimmon in '' The Welsh Heiress'' by

Edward Jerningham Edward Jerningham was a poet who moved in high society during the second half of the 18th century. Born at the family home of Costessey Park in 1737, he died in London on 17 November 1812. A writer of liberal views, he was savagely satirised later ...

(1795) * Mrs Wrangle in ''

First Love First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

'' by

(1795) * Lady Taunton in ''

The Man of Ten Thousand ''The Man of Ten Thousand'' is a 1796 comedy play by the British writer Thomas Holcroft. The original Drury Lane cast featured William Barrymore as Sir Pertinax Pitiful, John Palmer as Lord Laroon, Charles Kemble as Dorington, John Bannister as ...

'' by

(1796) * Ellen in ''

A Cure for the Heart Ache ''A Cure for the Heart Ache'' is a 1797 comedy play by the British writer Thomas Morton. It premiered at the Covent Garden Theatre in London. The original cast included William Thomas Lewis as Young Rapid, John Quick as Vortex, Alexander Pope ...

'' by Thomas Morton (1797) * Lady Manfred in ''

The Last of the Family ''The Last of the Family'' is a comedy play by the British writer Richard Cumberland. It was first staged at Drury Lane Theatre on 8 May 1797 as a benefit performance for the actor John Bannister. The original cast included William Dowton as ...

'' by

(1797) * Lady Ferment in ''

Knave or Not? ''Knave or Not?'' is a 1798 comedy play by the British writer Thomas Holcroft. The original Drury Lane cast included John Palmer as Monsrose, Richard Wroughton as Sir Guy Taunton, Richard Suett as Sir Job Ferment, Ralph Wewitzer as Mr Taunton, ...

'' by

(1798) * Maria in '' He's Much to Blame'' by

(1798) * Constantia in ''

The Eccentric Lover ''The Eccentric Lover'' is a comedy play by the British writer Richard Cumberland. It was first performed at Covent Garden Theatre on 30 April 1798. The original cast included William Thomas Lewis as Sir Francis Delroy, John Quick as Peter Crow ...

'' by

(1798) * Lady Truckle in ''

A Word for Nature ''A Word for Nature'' is a 1798 comedy play by the British writer Richard Cumberland. It is also known by the alternative title of ''The Passive Husband''. The original Drury Lane cast included James Aickin as Lord Glenadry, Richard Suett as Si ...

'' by

(1798) * Lady Julia in ''

Five Thousand a Year ''Five Thousand a Year'' is a 1799 comedy play by the British writer Thomas John Dibdin. The original Covent Garden cast included William Thomas Lewis as George Fervid, Alexander Pope as Frederick Fervid, Joseph Shepherd Munden as Sir Matthew Max ...

'' by

Thomas John Dibdin Thomas John Dibdin (21 March 1771 – 16 September 1841) was an English dramatist and songwriter. Life Dibdin was the son of Charles Dibdin, a songwriter and theatre manager, and of "Mrs Davenet", an actress whose real name was Harriett Pit ...

(1799) * Julia Cleveland in ''

The Votary of Wealth ''The Votary of Wealth'' is a 1799 comedy play by the British writer Joseph George Holman. The original Covent Garden Theatre, Covent Garden cast included William Thomas Lewis as Drooply, Alexander Pope (actor), Alexander Pope as Leonard Vizorly, ...

'' by

Joseph George Holman Joseph George Holman (1764–1817) was an English actor, dramatist and actor-manager. Early life Born in August 1764, he was son of John Major Holman of St. Giles's, Middlesex, an ensign and adjutant in the British service, who died when his so ...

(1799) * Victoria in '' Indiscretion'' by Prince Hoare (1800) * Caroline in ''

Hear Both Sides ''Hear Both Sides'' is an 1803 comedy play by the British writer Thomas Holcroft.Nicoll p.316 The original Drury Lane cast included William Dowton as Fairfax, John Bannister as Transit, Charles Kemble as Headlong, Richard Suett as Sir Charle ...

'' by

(1803) * Lady Courtland in ''

The School for Friends ''The School for Friends'' is an 1805 comedy play by the British writer Marianne Chambers. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London on 10 December 1805. The Drury Lane cast featured Robert William Elliston as Lord Belmour, Richard ...

'' by

Marianne Chambers Marianne Chambers (fl. 1799-1811 or 1812) was an English playwright. In 1799 she published a novel, ''He Deceives Himself: A Domestic Tale'' in three volumes, which was favourably reviewed in ''The Gentleman's Magazine'': "in its perusal we have ...

(1805)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pope, Jane English stage actresses 1744 births 1818 deaths 18th-century English actresses 19th-century English actresses Actresses from London