BELLAMY, DANIEL, the younger (d. 1788), divine and miscellaneous writer, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took the degree of M.A. 'per literas regias' in 1759. His first work was the 'Christian Schoolmaster,' 1737, 16mo. He joined with his father (of the same name) in publishing a collection of 'Miscellanies in Prose and Verse;' the first volume appeared in 1739, and the second in 1740. This collection contained some dramatic pieces, written to be performed by school-girls at breaking-up-time. In 'Biographia Dramatica' these little chamber dramas are warmly praised. The other works of the younger Bellamy are: 1. 'Discourses on the Truth of the Christian Religion,' 1744. 2. 'A Paraphrase on Job,' 1748, 4to. 3. 'On Benevolence, a sermon (on Ps. cxii.), with a summary of the life and character of Dean Colet, preached before the gentlemen educated at St. Paul's School,' 1756, 4to. 4. 'The British Remembrancer, or Chronicles of the King of England,' 1757? 12mo. 5. 'Ode to her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales,' 1768? 4to. 6. 'The Family Preacher,' 1776, 8vo, discourses for every Sunday throughout the year, written in conjunction with James Carrington, William Webster, and others. Bellamy was minister of Kew and Petersham, and in 1749 was presented to the vicarage of St. Stephen's, near St. Albans. He died 15 Feb. 1788.
[Gent. Mag. lviii. 272; Baker's Biographia Dramatica, i. i. 31; Watt; Graduati Cantabrigienses; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Cooke's Preacher's Assistant, ii. 34; European Magazine, xiii. 144; Notes and Queries, 2nd ser. ii. 507.]
BELLAMY, GEORGE ANNE (1731?–1788), actress, was born, according to her
'Apology,' at Fingal, in Ireland, on St. George's day (23 April 1733). For this year she afterwards substituted 1731, supplying a copy of a certificate of birth. The year 1727, given without comment by Chetwood in
1749, is more probable. The name George
Anne was given by mistake for Georgiana.
Her mother, whose maiden name was Seal,
was a quakeress, the daughter of a rich farmer at Maidstone. She eloped from a
boarding-school with Lord Tyrawley, ambassador at Lisbon. She there married Captain
Bellamy, the master of a trading vessel. The
birth very shortly after of George Anne Bellamy led to the immediate disappearance of
Captain Bellamy. Lord Tyrawley acknowledged the paternity of the infant. He
sent her, when five years old, to Boulogne,
where she was placed in a convent until she
was eleven, when she returned to England,
and lived for some time with a peruke-maker
in St. James's Street, formerly in the service
of Lord Tyrawley. After the return of her
father she saw under his charge a good deal
of company, and was introduced to Lord
Chesterfield and to Pope. Her father, on
going as ambassador to Russia, made her an
allowance, which she forfeited by going to
live with her mother. She became acquainted
with Mrs. Woffington, Sheridan (the actor),
and Garrick. She even took part with
Garrick in a private performance of 'The Distressed Mother,' in which she played Andromache. A rehearsal of an amateur performance of 'Othello' led to an engagement with
Rich, the manager of Covent Garden. Rich
introduced her to Quin, then the virtual
director of the house. Rich insisted, in spite
of Quin's opposition, that she should play
Monimia in 'The Orphan.' Her appearance
took place on 22 Nov. 1744. At the rehearsals Quin, who was to play Chamont,
did not appear. Through the first three acts
she could scarcely proceed, but in the fourth
act she obtained a success. Quin lifted her
in his arms from the ground, called her 'a
divine creature,' and proclaimed himself
henceforward her supporter and friend. This
was not, in fact, her first appearance. Her
name appears in the bill for Covent Garden
for 27 March 1742, quoted by Genest, as
acting Miss Prue in 'Love for Love.' Mrs. Bellamy was patronised by aristocratic society,
and rose rapidly in her profession. An abduction by Lord Byron led to a severe illness,
after which she took refuge with some quaker
relatives in Essex. Her private adventures
cannot be followed. In 1745-6 she was in
Dublin. Sheridan, who had the management
of the Smock Alley and Aungier Street
theatres, brought her out at the latter house
on 11 Nov. 1744, according to Hitchcock, but
the year must be 1745, as Monimia. Desdemona and other characters followed. Mrs.
O'Hara, her father's sister, introduced her into
society. She became in consequence so much
the rage, that an attempt of Garrick to prevent
her appearance as Constance in 'King John'
was the means of causing him much public
mortification. On 22 Oct. 1748 she reappeared at Covent Garden as Belvidera in
'Venice Preserved.' Here she remained playing, generally in tragic characters, but occasionally appearing in comedy, until 1750
when (28 Sept.), with Garrick, by whom she
was specially engaged, she appeared as Juliet
in the famous combat with Barry and Mrs.
Cibber at the rival house. Her success in
this character was conspicuous. Her private
character was, however, suffering. Her reconciliation to her father, her relations with
