A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Fenton, Lavinia

FENTON, Lavinia, whose real name was Beswick, was an actress and singer who first appeared in 1726 at the Haymarket Theatre as the Parish Girl, in Gay's burlesque, 'The What d'ye call it,' and afterwards at Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, July 15, 1726, as Lucilla, in Sir W. Davenant's comedy, 'The Man's the Master.' She attracted no particular attention until she appeared as Polly Peachem in 'The Beggar's Opera,' on the first night of its performance, Jan. 29, 1728, when she 'became all at once the idol of the town; her pictures were engraven and sold in great numbers; her life written; books of letters and verses to her published; and pamphlets made of even her very sayings and jests.' This success led to her being entrusted with more important parts than had before been assigned to her. At the end of the season, after she had played Polly upwards of 60 times, she withdrew from the stage and went to live with Charles, third Duke of Bolton. On Oct. 21, 1751, his wife, from whom he had been separated many years, having died, the Duke married Lavinia Beswick at Aix, in Provence. She became a widow in 1754, died in January, 1760, at West Combe Park, Greenwich, and was buried in Greenwich Church, Feb. 3, 1760.

[ W. H. H. ]