John Brunton (1741–1822) was an English actor who became the manager of a circuit of theatres in and around Norfolk. He assiduously cultivated emerging talent in his company, which also produced actors amongst his children and grandchildren. He also used funds from his theatrical successes to fund philanthropy, including establishing the Norwich Theatrical Fund.

Early life

Brunton was born in Norwich, the son of a soap maker, and educated at the grammar school under Rev Wilton. He served an apprenticeship to a grocer before moving to work with a relative in Canterbury, where he met and married a daughter of Mr. Friend, a tailor and draper. Later he went to London as a grocer and tea-dealer.

Early career

A friendship with J. Younger of

Covent Garden theatre The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply Covent Garden, after a previous use of the site. It is the home of The Royal Op ...

prompted him to appear on the stage in ''

Cyrus Cyrus (Persian: کوروش) is a male given name. It is the given name of a number of Persian kings. Most notably it refers to Cyrus the Great ( BC). Cyrus is also the name of Cyrus I of Anshan ( BC), King of Persia and the grandfather of Cyrus t ...

'' on 11 April 1774 and on 3 May as the title character in '' Hamlet''. He then took up acting in Norwich where, on 2 September 1775 he was again Hamlet with the Norwich company at Colchester theatre. On 6 May 1776 he was Shylock in '' The Merchant of Venice'' in Norwich. On 1 December he was Hamlet at

Yarmouth Yarmouth may refer to: Places Canada *Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia **Yarmouth, Nova Scotia **Municipality of the District of Yarmouth **Yarmouth (provincial electoral district) **Yarmouth (electoral district) * Yarmouth Township, Ontario *New ...

theatre. By 1779 he was living on the Lowe Close, Norwich. At Bristol and

Bath Bath may refer to: * Bathing, immersion in a fluid ** Bathtub, a large open container for water, in which a person may wash their body ** Public bathing, a public place where people bathe * Thermae, ancient Roman public bathing facilities Plac ...

, in ''

The Tragedy of Jane Shore ''The Tragedy of Jane Shore'' is a 1714 historical tragedy by the British writer Nicholas Rowe. It was his penultimate play, and was inspired by the life of Jane Shore the mistress of Edward IV. It premiered at the Drury Lane Theatre in London ...

'' by Nicholas Rowe in 1780, he appeared with Sarah Siddons and was said "to have a very fine and very powerful voice, he speaks the sense of his author distinctly; his manner is sufficiently marking; and, upon the whole, he promises to be an acquisition to our theatre". Another Covent Garden Theatre appearance was as Evander in ''The Grecian Daughter'' on 28 October 1785 with his daughter Ann in the title role.

Management and later years

He became the lessee of the

Norwich Theatre Circuit The Norwich Theatre Circuit was a prominent network of theatrical venues in East Anglia established in the eighteenth century. It remained one of the foremost institutions of provincial theatre in England until the mid nineteenth century. Aside fr ...

by 1788. In May of that year he purchased the remaining five-year lease of the Norwich theatre. On 5 May 1790 another daughter Miss E Brunton made her debut on Covent Garden Theatre stage in ''The Man of Quality''; she is described as very young and beautiful. In January 1791 Brunton established the Norwich Theatrical Fund for "the relief of such as through age or infirmity might be compelled to retire from the stage". This was the first theatrical fund outside of London. Later that month he donated the proceeds of his benefit to the local Sunday schools. Brunton's takings at a performance in King's Lynn this month were said to be the greatest any manager had achieved at the venue; other plays included ''Better Late than Never'' and ''Rosina''. In March at Norwich was played ''The Road to Ruin'', ''The Old Maid'' by Arthur Murphy, ''Next Door Neighbours'', ''

The Irish Widow ''The Irish Widow'' is a play by David Garrick first staged at Drury Lane Theatre on 23 October 1772. It was written in less than a week by Garrick and resembled the plot of '' Le Mariage forcé'' by Molière. A comedy Comedy is a genre of fic ...

'', '' The Romp'', ''

Which is the Man? ''Which is the Man?'' is a 1782 comedy play by the British writer Hannah Cowley. The original Covent Garden cast included John Henderson as Fitzherbert, William Thomas Lewis as Beauchamp, Richard Wroughton as Belville, John Quick as Pendragon, ...

'' and ''Who's the Dupe?'' by

Hannah Cowley Hannah Cowley may refer to: *Hannah Cowley (writer) Hannah Cowley (14 March 1743 – 11 March 1809) was an English playwright and poet. Although Cowley's plays and poetry did not enjoy wide popularity after the 19th century, critic Melinda Finb ...

. In April he put on at Norwich ''The Woodman'' by Rev Henry Bate Dudley, ''The Deserter of Naples'', ''King Richard the III'' and ''Modern Antiques''. The Easter Monday benefit performance of ''King Richard the III'' featured his daughter-in-law

Anna Ross Anna Ross Brunton (1773 – ?) was an English actress and dramatist and part of an extended family of actors. She began writing for the stage at the age of fifteen and was acting by that time, sometimes in London, but mostly in the English pro ...

and her benefit on 2 May featured her sister

Fanny Robertson Fanny Robertson (1765 – 18 December 1855), born Frances Mary Ross, was an actress and later the manager of the provincial theatres of the Lincoln Circuit. Family Robertson's parents were the actors William Ross (died 1781) and his wife Eli ...

as Euphrasia in ''The Grecian Daughter''. In January 1792 he played Eustace de St Pierre in Colman junior's ''Surrender of Calais''. He gave the receipts of his benefit to local Sunday schools. On 29 March 1792 in ''

The Battle of Hexham ''The Battle of Hexham'' is a 1789 history play by the British writer George Colman the Younger. It is based around the 1464 Battle of Hexham, a decisive Yorkist victory during the War of the Roses. It revived Colman's career after the disappoin ...

'' the part of Queen Margaret was played by local playwright

Hannah Brand Hannah Brand (1754–1821) was an English actress, poet and playwright. After her brief theatrical career, she became a governess. Life and career Hannah Brand was born in Norwich, where she ran a "young Ladies Boarding School, No. 18, St. Gile ...

at Norwich. The lease on the Norwich theatre expired on 1 June 1800. That night, he took his final leave of Norwich theatre before a crowded house, reprising his Shylock. Aged 82, Brunton died on 19 December 1822; his widow Elizabeth died in 1826.

Family

Brunton married Elizabeth on 7 August 1766. Their fourteen children included Ann Brunton Merry, actress and theatre manager (married William Warren); Elizabeth Columbine (1772–1799) also an actress; and John Brunton Jr (1775–1848), actor and theatre manager at Brighton, Norwich, Birmingham and King's Lynn. Brunton Jr married

, and two of their five children were the actresses Elizabeth Yates and Fanny Maria Brunton (1803–1883) Among Brunton's other children who appeared on stage were

Louisa, Countess of Craven Louisa, Countess of Craven, originally Louisa Brunton (1785?–1860) was an English actress. Birth and background Her father, John Brunton (1741-1819), son of a soap dealer in Norwich, was at one time a grocer in Drury Lane. He became an actor, ...

, who married the 1st Earl Craven, Thomas (b. 1789) and Kitty (b. 1789). His son Lieut-Col Richard Brunton (1787–1846) was a distinguished veteran of

Waterloo Waterloo most commonly refers to: * Battle of Waterloo, a battle on 18 June 1815 in which Napoleon met his final defeat * Waterloo, Belgium, where the battle took place. Waterloo may also refer to: Other places Antarctica *King George Island (S ...

and the Crimean War.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brunton, John 1741 births 1822 deaths