Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/102

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
82
DAVENPORT
DAVENPORT

ing 1873 he acted in Wood's museum, New York, and in 187o-'0 played with great success the part of Brutus in a protracted engagement of " Julius CiEsar" at Booth's theatre, New York. His last appearance in New York was also in Booth's the- atre, where he played in " Daniel Druce." He was one of the most finished actors on the American stage, and possessed great versatility, being equally successful in tragedy and comedy. — His wife, Fanny Elizabeth Vining-, b. in London, 6 July, 1829 ; d. in Canton, Pa., 20 July, 1891 ; was the daughter of Frederick Vining of the llaymarket. Her professional education began with playing baby parts when she was but three years old. Sub- sequently she spent a few years at boarding-school, and then made her first appearance, in 1847, as Juliet, with G. V. Brooke as Romeo and her father as Mercutio. She continued to play leading juve- nile parts at the Hayraarket and Drury Lane thea- tres with Charles Kean, William C. Macready, and other distinguished actors, until her marriage with Mr. Davenport, on 8 Jan., 1849. Her first appear- ance in the United States was as Margaret Elmore, in "Love's Sacrifice," in the Broadway theatre. New York, on 11 Sept., 1854. Afterward she was associated with her husband in many of his star- ring engagements, and she has played in the princi- pal cities of tlie United States. — Their daughter, Fanny Lily (xipsy, b. in London, 10 April, 1850, was educated in the public schools of Boston, and made her first appearance at the Howard athenaeum as the child in "Metamora." In New York she appeared first as King of Spain in "Faint Heart never Won Fair Lady," on 14 Feb., 1862, at Niblo's Garden. Subsequently she acted at the Little Tremont theatre, Bos- ton, and in the south, where she played soubrette parts for a sea- son. Afterward she played in the Arch street theatre, Phil- adelj)hia, then un- der the manage- ment of Mrs. John Drew, where she attracted the at- tention of Augus- tin Daly, who in- troduced her in New York at his Fifth avenue thea- tre in 1869. There

she played Lady

Gay Spanker in " London Assurance " ; Rosalind in " As You Like It " ; Nancy Sykes in " Oliver Twist " ; Lady Teazle in " School for Scandal " ; Lu and Fanny Ten Eyck in " Divorce " : the title- role in " Leah " ; and Mabel Renfrew in " Pique," a play in which she won great success, and which ran for 250 nights. She has made starring tours throughout the United States, frequently adding new parts to those previously played. In 1880 she played Olivia successfully in Philadelphia, and afterward brought out, in New York, Miss Anna Dickinson's play of " An American Girl." She also introduced in New York Sardou's " Feodora," acting the title-role, and received much approba- tion for the magnificent manner in which the play was mounted. On 30 July, 1879, she married Edwin H. Price, an actor. — Another daughter, Blanche (Blanche Maria), b. in London, 11 July, 1852, was educated in the public schools of Boston, and in the convent of Notre Dame. In 1867 she played at the Boston museum, where she attracted attention by her singing, and afterward studied there under M. Adavani. In 1809 she went to Milan to cultivate her voice, and remained abroad six years, studying and afterward singing. She was a great favorite in Naples, as well as Milan. She returned to America under Maurice Strakosch in October, 1879, and made her debut in opera in Philadelphia. Her personation of Marguerite in " Faust " met with warm praise, both for her pure, clear soprano voice and her dramatic skill. She filled an engagement at Booth's in 1880. She sings in most of the Italian operas, her favorite being " La Traviata." — Another daughter, Lily (Lily Antoinette), b. in Glasgow, Scotland, 2 Nov., 1854; d. in Philadelphia, 13 Jan., 1878. She made her fii'st appearance in the Chestnut street theatre, Philadelphia, while her father was manager, and played juvenile parts there and elsewhere until 1875. She married Frost Thorn in 1874. — Anotlier daughter. May (Marion Caroline), b. in Boston, 21 July, 1857, made her first appearance at the Chest- nut street theatre, Philadelphia, under her father's management, in 1872, and has since played in ju- venile parts. In the winter of 1879 she filled an en- gagement at the Standard theatre. New York, play- ing in " My Uncle's Will." She acted at the Boston museum, in the winter of 1880, as Lady Gwendoline Loftus in Boucicault's " Daddy O'Dowd," and May Edwards in the " Ticket-of-Leave Man." She mar- ried William Seymour in 1882. — A son, Edarar Loomis, b. in Boston, 7 Feb., 1862, played with his sister Fanny in 1879 at the Grand Opera-house, New York, personating Thorsby Gill in " Pique." — Another son. Henry (ieorge Bryant, b. in New York city, 19 Jan., 18*66, has played at the Walnut street theatre, Philadelphia, as Hendrick, with Jo- seph Jefferson in the comedy of " Rip Van Winkle," and in 1879 he appeared at Wallack's theatre, New York, as Sir Joseph Porter in the juvenile "Pina- fore " troupe.


DAVENPORT, Franklin, senator, b. in Philadelphia, Pa. ; d. in Woodbury, N. J., about 1829. He received an academic education, and, after studying law, was admitted to the bar, and practised in Woodbury. During the Revolutionary war he served as captain of the artillery in Col. Newcomb's New Jersey brigade, and for some time was under Col. Samuel Smith in Fort Mifflin. He was a colo- nel in the New Jersey line during the whiskey in- surrection in 1794, and marched with the troops to Pittsburg. Subsequently he became the first sur- rogate of Gloucester county, and was appointed U. S. senator to fill the vacancy caused by the resig- nation of John Rutherford, serving from 19 Dec, 1798, till 3 Marcii, 1799. He was then sent to con- gress, and served tlii'ough the entire term from 2 Dec, 1799. till 3 March, 1801.


DAVENPORT, Henry Kallock, naval officer, b. in Savannah, Ga., 10 Dec, 1820; d. in Franzensbad, Bohemia, 18 Aug., 1872. He entered the navy as midshipman in February, 1838, and served on various vessels until 1844, when he was made passed midshipman and attached to the coast survey. Later he sailed on the "Columbia," and from 1849 till 1853 was connected with the mail-steamship service. After being promoted to lieutenant in December, 1852, he spent some time on sea duty in various squadrons, being present at the capture of the Barrier forts. Canton river, in 1856, and later on shore duty at the U. S. observatory in Washington. During the civil war he was attached to the "Cumberland," and was present at the engagement off Hatteras Inlet. From 1861 till 1864 he commanded the steamer "Hetzel," and was en-