Charles Murray (1754–1821) was a Scottish actor and dramatist. Charles Murray Chapman

Life

The son of Sir John Murray of Broughton, he was born at

Cheshunt Cheshunt (/ˈtʃɛzənt/ CHEZ-ənt) is a town in the Borough of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England, situated within the London commuter belt approximately north of Central London. The town lies on the River Lea and Lee Navigation, bordering th ...

Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and one of the home counties. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the ...

. He spent some time in France, studied pharmacy and surgery in London, and went surgeon's mate on some Mediterranean voyages.

Stage career

After playing as an amateur in Liverpool Murray went, with an introduction from Younger, the theatre manager there, to

Tate Wilkinson Tate Wilkinson (27 October 173916 November 1803) was an English actor and manager. Life He was the son of a clergyman and was sent to Harrow. His first attempts at acting were badly received, and it was to his wonderful gift of mimicry that h ...

of the York circuit. He made his first professional stage appearance at York, under the name of Raymur, and playing Carlos in ''

Love Makes a Man ''Love Makes A Man; Or, The Fop's Fortune'' is a comedy play by the English writer Colley Cibber written and first performed in 1700, and first published in 1701. It borrows elements from two Jacobean plays '' The Elder Brother'' and ''The Custo ...

'' (

Colley Cibber Colley Cibber (6 November 1671 – 11 December 1757) was an English actor-manager, playwright and Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Poet Laureate. His colourful memoir ''An Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber'' (1740) describes his life in ...

). A quarrel in a tavern in

Wakefield Wakefield is a cathedral city in West Yorkshire, England located on the River Calder. The city had a population of 109,766 in the 2021 census, up from 99,251 in the 2011 census. The city is the administrative centre of the wider Metropolit ...

in September 1776 lost him his position. After further time at sea Murray acted under his own name with Griffiths at Norwich. On 8 October 1785, as Sir Giles Overreach in ''

A New Way to pay Old Debts ''A New Way to Pay Old Debts'' (c. 1625, printed 1633) is an English Renaissance drama, the most popular play by Philip Massinger. Its central character, Sir Giles Over-reach, became one of the more popular villains on English and American sta ...

'', he made his first appearance in

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 ...

. Here he remained until 1796, playing a great variety of parts. His wife Mrs. Murray occasionally played with him, and on 1 July 1793, for the benefit of her father and of her mother, who played Queen Elinor, his young daughter Harriet Murray made her first stage appearance as Prince Arthur. She subsequently played Titania, and on Mrs. Murray's final benefit in Bath on 19 May 1796, Fine Lady in

David Garrick David Garrick (19 February 1716 – 20 January 1779) was an English actor, playwright, Actor-manager, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of European theatrical practice throughout the 18th century, and was a pupil a ...

's ''Lethe''. On this occasion Murray spoke a farewell address.

At Covent Garden

Murray came to Covent Garden with a good reputation; his first appearance in London took place on 30 September as Shylock, with, it is said, Bagatelle in ''The Poor Soldier'' ( John O'Keeffe and William Shield). He was found better suited for secondary parts. For his benefit, on 12 May 1798, he was Polixenes in ''The Winter's Tale'', Harriet Murray making, as Perdita, her first appearance in London. He was on 11 October 1798 the original Baron Wildenhaim in

Elizabeth Inchbald Elizabeth Inchbald (née Simpson, 15 October 1753 – 1 August 1821) was an English novelist, actress, dramatist, and translator. Her two novels, '' A Simple Story'' and '' Nature and Art'', have received particular critical attention. Life B ...

's '' Lovers' Vows''. In 1802 he played the title role in Matthew Lewis's tragedy ''

Alfonso, King of Castile ''Alfonso, King of Castile'' is a historical tragedy by the English writer Matthew Lewis. It was published in November 1801, and was first staged at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden the following year. It is set during the reign of Alfonso XI of ...

''. Murray's last appearance at Covent Garden appears to have been on 17 July 1817 as Brabantio to the Othello of

Charles Mayne Young Charles Mayne Young (10 January 1777 – 1856) was an English actor. He was born to a respected London surgeon (doctor). His first stage appearance was in Liverpool on 20 September 1798, where he played a Young Norval in Home's blank verse trag ...

, the Iago of

Junius Brutus Booth Junius Brutus Booth (1 May 1796 – 30 November 1852) was an English-born American actor. He was the father of actor John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. His other children included Edwin Booth, one of the foremost t ...

, and the Desdemona of Elizabeth O'Neill.During this season he had been on 3 May 1817 the original Alvarez in Richard Shiel's ''The Apostate'', and took part in

John Philip Kemble John Philip Kemble (1 February 1757 – 26 February 1823) was a British actor. He was born into a theatrical family as the eldest son of Roger Kemble, actor-manager of a touring troupe. His elder sister Sarah Siddons achieved fame with him o ...

's retiring performances, ending 23 June with Coriolanus.

Last years

The ''Theatrical Inquisitor'' of February 1817 spoke of Murray as a veteran, and made reference to his infirmities. Threatened with paralysis, he went to Edinburgh to be near his children,

Harriet Siddons Harriet Siddons (née Murray; 16 April 1783 2 November 1844), sometimes known as Mrs Henry Siddons, was a Scottish actress and theatre manager. Edinburgh referred to her as "Our" Mrs Siddons to distinguish her from her English mother-in-law ...

(Mrs. Henry Siddons) and

William Henry Murray William Henry Wood Murray (1790–1852), a Scottish actor, manager and theatre owner in Edinburgh, was a friend of Walter Scott and particularly associated with dramatisations of Scott's Waverley Novels. Life Born in Bath on 26 August 1790, ...

, and died there on 8 November 1821.

Selected roles

* Sir Hubert Stanley in '' A Cure for the Heart Ache'' by Thomas Morton (1797) * Sir Oliver Monrath in '' False Impressions'' by

Richard Cumberland Richard Cumberland may refer to: * Richard Cumberland (philosopher) Richard Cumberland (15 July 1631 (or 1632) – 9 October 1718) was an English philosopher, and Bishop of Peterborough from 1691. In 1672, he published his major work, ''De leg ...

(1797) * Doctor Gosterman in '' He's Much to Blame'' by

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

(1798) * Baron Wildenhaim in '' Lovers' Vows'' by

(1798) * Gangrene in '' The Eccentric Lover'' by

(1798) * Metland in '' The Wise Man of the East'' by

(1799) * Clevland in '' The Votary of Wealth'' by Joseph George Holman (1799) * Goulding in '' Five Thousand a Year'' 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 Pitt. ...

(1799) * Mr. Bertram in '' The Birthday'' by

(1799) * Morrington in ''

Speed the Plough ''Speed the Plough'' is a five-act comedy by Thomas Morton (playwright), Thomas Morton, written in 1798 and first performed in 1800 at the Royal Opera House, Theatre Royal, Covent Garden to great acclaim. It is mostly remembered today for the sa ...

'' by Thomas Morton (1800) * Marchmont in ''

Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...

'' by Frederick Reynolds (1800) * Hermit in '' Joanna of Montfaucon'' by

(1800) * Counsellor Friendly in '' The School for Prejudice'' by Thomas Dibdin (1801) * Alfonso in ''

'' by

Matthew Gregory Lewis Matthew Gregory Lewis (9 July 1775 – 16 May 1818) was an English novelist and dramatist, whose writings are often classified as "Gothic horror". He was frequently referred to as "Monk" Lewis, because of the success of his 1796 Gothic novel ' ...

(1802) * Lieutenant Worthington in '' The Poor Gentleman'' by George Colman the Younger (1801) * Sir Herbert Melmoth in ''

Folly as it Flies ''Folly as it Flies'' is an 1801 comedy play by the British writer Frederick Reynolds. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden on 29 October 1801. The original Covent Garden cast included Charles Murray as Sir Herbert Melmoth, Henry Ers ...

'' by Frederick Reynolds (1801) * Sir Edward Delauny in ''

Delays and Blunders ''Delays and Blunders'' is an 1802 comedy play by the British writer Frederick Reynolds. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden on 30 October 1802.Nicoll p.381 The original cast included Charles Murray as Sir Edward Delauny, Henry Sid ...

'' by Frederick Reynolds (1802) * Major Seymour in '' The Three Per Cents'' by Frederick Reynolds (1803) * Old Man in ''

The School of Reform ''The School of Reform'' is an 1805 comedy play by the British writer Thomas Morton. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden on 15 January 1805. The original cast included George Frederick Cooke as Lord Avondale, Joseph Shepherd Munden ...

'' by Thomas Morton (1805) * Andreas in '' Rugantino'' by

(1805) * Owen Glenroy in '' Town and Country'' by Thomas Morton (1807) * Randall in '' The Gazette Extraordinary'' by Joseph George Holman (1811) * Godfrey in ''

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

'' by

Richard Lalor Sheil Richard Lalor Sheil (17 August 1791 – 23 May 1851), Irish politician, writer and orator, was born at Drumdowney, Slieverue, County Kilkenny, Ireland. The family was temporarily domiciled at Drumdowney while their new mansion at Bellevue, near ...

(1816) * Alvarez in '' The Apostate'' by

(1817)

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Charles 1754 births 1821 deaths Scottish male stage actors Scottish dramatists and playwrights 18th-century British male actors 18th-century Scottish male actors 19th-century British male actors 19th-century Scottish male actors