Frances Ann Denny Drake (November 6, 1797-September 1, 1875) was an American actress, foremost known as a tragedienne. She had a successful career from 1815 onward, toured all the United States and has been described as the perhaps most well-known actress in America prior to

Charlotte Cushman Charlotte Saunders Cushman (July 23, 1816 – February 18, 1876) was an American stage actress. Her voice was noted for its full contralto register, and she was able to play both male and female parts. She lived intermittently in Rome, in an expa ...

. Drake was born on November 6, 1797, in Schenectady, New York. Her acting debut came as Julia in the comedy ''The Midnight Hour'' in

Cherry Valley, New York Cherry Valley is a town in Otsego County, New York, United States. According to the 2020 US census, the village of Cherry Valley had a population of 487. However, the town has a much higher population. Within the town of Cherry Valley is a vil ...

Joseph Jefferson Joseph Jefferson III (February 20, 1829 – April 23, 1905), often known as Joe Jefferson, was an American actor. He was the third actor of this name in a family of actors and managers, and one of the most famous 19th century American comedians ...

said about her "Before

reached the height of her popularity the leading tragic actress of America was Mrs. A. Drake." Drake acted in New York between 1824 and 1835 in various roles, visited England in 1833. Drake's roles in plays included Bianaca in ''Fazio'', Imogene in ''Bertram'', Julia in ''The Hunchback'', and Mrs. Haller in ''The Stranger'' as well as most heroines in Shakespeare's works. In 1823, she married Alexander Drake, who headed the theatrical company in which she was a novice actress. They had a daughter and three sons. After his death in 1930, she married George W. Cutter, an attorney and activist. They lived in Covington, Kentucky, but an unhappy marriage led to a separation, and she once more used Drake as her last name. On September 1, 1875, Drake died on her son's farm in

Oldham County, Kentucky Oldham County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state and commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the population was 67,607. Its county seat is La Grange. The county is named for Colonel William Oldham. Old ...

, aged 78.

References

1797 births 1875 deaths 19th-century American actresses {{US-theat-actor-stub