Jane Egleton (died 1734) was a British

stage actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lit ...

of the

eighteenth century The 18th century lasted from January 1, 1701 ( MDCCI) to December 31, 1800 ( MDCCC). During the 18th century, elements of Enlightenment thinking culminated in the American, French, and Haitian Revolutions. During the century, slave tradin ...

associated with

John Rich John Rich (born January 7, 1974) is an American country music singer-songwriter. From 1992 to 1998, he was a member of the country music band Lonestar, in which he played bass guitar and alternated with Richie McDonald as lead vocalist. After d ...

's company at the

Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre Lisle's Tennis Court was a building off Portugal Street in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. Originally built as a real tennis court, it was used as a playhouse during two periods, 1661–1674 and 1695–1705. During the early period, t ...

. He origins are not entirely clear, but she acted under the name Jane Giffard or Mrs Giffard until 1721 when she married

John Egleton John Egleton (1698-1727) was a British stage actor. He was a member of the Lincoln's Inn Fields company between 1717 and 1726, and also routinely performed at the summer fairs in London. In 1721 he married the actress Jane Giffard.Johanson p.409 ...

. She may either have been previously married to one of the members of the Giffard acting clan or been born into the family herself.Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.199 In 1728 she was the original Lucy Lockit in

John Gay John Gay (30 June 1685 – 4 December 1732) was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for '' The Beggar's Opera'' (1728), a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly ...

's ''

The Beggar's Opera ''The Beggar's Opera'' is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of sa ...

''. She continued to act with Rich's company at Lincoln's Inn until 1732 and then remained for the first year after the switch to the new

Covent Garden Theatre The Royal Opera House (ROH) is an opera house An opera house is a theater (structure), theatre building used for performances of opera. It usually includes a Stage (theatre), stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facili ...

before retiring.

Selected roles

* Bettrice in ''

The Lady's Triumph ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speak ...

'' (1718) * Le Jupe in '' The Coquet'' (1718) * Lucy in ''

'Tis Well if it Takes ''Tis Well if it Takes'' is a 1719 comedy play by the British writer William Taverner. It premiered at Lincoln's Inn Fields on 28 February 1719. The original cast included John Leigh as Loveless, William Bullock as Oldish, Lacy Ryan as Char ...

'' (1719) * Lady Raleigh in ''

Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh (; – 29 October 1618) was an English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer. One of the most notable figures of the Elizabethan era, he played a leading part in English colonisation of North America, suppressed rebellio ...

'' (1720) * Iris in '' Love and Duty'' (1722) * Mother Stubble in ''

Hanging and Marriage ''Hanging and Marriage'' is a 1722 farce by the British writer Henry Carey. Written as an afterpiece it premiered at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre accompanying a revival of Dryden '' John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, ...

'' (1722) * Salome in ''

Mariamne Mariamne is a name frequently used in the Herodian royal house. In Greek it is spelled Μαριάμη (Mariame) by Josephus; in some editions of his work the second ''m'' is doubled (Mariamme). In later copies of those editions the spelling was ...

'' (1723) * The Devil of a Wife in ''

The Devil of a Wife ''The Devil of a Wife, or A Comical Transformation'' is a 1686 comedy play by the English writer and actor Thomas Jevon. It was first performed by the United Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. The original Dorset Garden cast include ...

'' (1724) * Frizle in ''

The Capricious Lovers ''The Capricious Lovers'' is a 1725 comedy play by the British writer Gabriel Odingsells. The play revolves around a vain militia colonel.Freeman p.282 The original cast at Lincoln's Inn Fields included John Hippisley as Colonel Mockyouth, T ...

'' (1725) * Lady Amsbace in ''

The Bath Unmasked ''The Bath Unmasked'' is a 1725 comedy play by the British writer Gabriel Odingsells. The action takes place in the fashionable spa town of Bath. Staged at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London it lasted for six performances, considered a ...

'' (1725) * Lettice in ''

The Dissembled Wanton ''The Dissembled Wanton'' is a 1726 comedy play by the British writer Leonard Welsted. The original Lincoln's Inn Fields cast included James Quin as Lord Severne, Lacy Ryan Lacy Ryan (c. 1694–1760), English actor, appeared at the Haymar ...

'' (1725) * Mrs Joiner in ''

The Female Fortune Teller ''The Female Fortune Teller'' is a 1726 comedy play by the British writer Charles Johnson.Nicoll p.142 It is a reworking of Edward Ravenscroft's 1683 restoration comedy ''Dame Dobson''. The original cast featured James Quin as Spring, Lacy Rya ...

'' (1726) * Lucy Lockit in ''

'' (1728) * Wife of Bath in ''

The Wife of Bath "The Wife of Bath's Tale" ( enm, The Tale of the Wyf of Bathe) is among the best-known of Geoffrey Chaucer's ''Canterbury Tales''. It provides insight into the role of women in the Late Middle Ages and was probably of interest to Chaucer himse ...

'' (1730)

References

Bibliography

* Highfill, Philip H, Burnim, Kalman A. & Langhans, Edward A. ''A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800: Garrick to Gyngell''. SIU Press, 1978. * Straub, Kristina, G. Anderson, Misty and O'Quinn, Daniel . ''The Routledge Anthology of Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Drama''. Taylor & Francis, 2017. 18th-century English people English stage actresses British stage actresses 18th-century English actresses 18th-century British actresses Year of birth unknown 1734 deaths {{England-bio-stub