Mary Mozeen
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Mary Mozeen born Mary Edwards (before 1724? – 1773?) was a British singer and actress.


Life

Her parents may have been Thomas and Mary Edwards. Her father was a member of the King's music and he made a change in his will in 1724 to favour his children Mary and Thomas. So this would make her birthdate to be 1724 or before. It is thought that she was trained by the actress
Kitty 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 Engl ...
. She first appeared on stage with the Lilliputian Company on 17 November 1737. Her skills as a singer were soon valued and she became an established name. Her first few parts were in ''The Burgomaster Trick'd'',
Henry Carey Henry Carey may refer to: *Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon (1526–1596), politician, general, and potential illegitimate son of Henry VIII *Henry Carey, 1st Earl of Dover (1580–1666), English peer *Henry Carey, 2nd Earl of Monmouth (1596–1661), ...
's ''The Dragon of Wantley'' and then ''Glowworm'' in ''Robin Goodfellow''. It was said that she blushed when sexual jokes were made. On 8 March 1740 the hugely successful Kitty Clive appeared as Rosamond at Drury Lane in
Thomas Arne Thomas Augustine Arne (; 12 March 17105 March 1778) was an English composer. He is best known for his patriotic song " Rule, Britannia!" and the song " A-Hunting We Will Go", the latter composed for a 1777 production of '' The Beggar's Opera'', w ...
's opera of the same name. Clive had assisted her and she became her protegee and she took the role of the page. Clive had a benefit on 17 March 1740 and Edwards appeared there too. In 1741 she was with the actors at
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, ...
where her soprano voice was used in works by
Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...
. In 1744 she returned to Covent Garden where she appearrd with Kitty. She was in
The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...
on 17 March. She married a fellow actor and writer named
Thomas Mozeen Thomas Mozeen (died 1768) was an English actor and dramatist. Biography Mozeen was of French extraction, but born in England, his sponsor being Dr. Henry Sacheverell, was bred to the bar, which profession he forsook for the stage. His first tra ...
on 19 May 1746. It was said that in time she and Kitty Clive were estranged. One source says this was due to Mary marrying a man - as Clive is thought to have been bisexual. In 1748 "Mrs Mozeen" and "Thomas Mozeen" went to Ireland where they were employed by
Thomas Sheridan Thomas Sheridan may refer to: *Thomas Sheridan (divine) (1687–1738), Anglican divine *Thomas Sheridan (actor) (1719–1788), Irish actor and teacher of elocution *Thomas Sheridan (soldier) (1775–1817/18) *Thomas B. Sheridan (born 1931), America ...
in Dublin. She returned to work for Sheridan in 1748. He resurfaced in 1750 where he worked in secondary roles at Drury Lane for fourteen years. Her husband's only published play, ''Heiress, or Antigallican'', was centred on a girl who was brought up as a boy. The play was performed once in 1759 at a benefit and published later. Her husband died in 1768 and her death is presumed in 1773.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mozeen, Mary 18th-century births 1773 deaths Year of birth missing Year of death uncertain 18th-century British actresses 18th-century British women opera singers