Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Hitchcock, Robert

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255071Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 27 — Hitchcock, Robert1891Gordon Goodwin

HITCHCOCK, ROBERT (d. 1809), dramatist, was at one time an actor of small parts at York, but was afterwards prompter at the Haymarket in the elder Colman's time (1777–88). His wife and daughter both acted at the Haymarket, the latter making her first appearance in the ‘Silver Tankard’ in 1781. By 1788 he had become prompter at the Theatre Royal, Dublin, and his wife and daughter were great favourites on the Irish stage. He died in Clarendon Street, Dublin, at the end of 1809 (European Mag. lvi. 478). His daughter retired from the stage on her marriage to a Dublin barrister. His son Robert, LL.B. of the university of Dublin, was also a member of the Irish bar. He was author of:

  1. ‘The Macaroni, a comedy’ (anon.), 8vo, York, 1773 (also 12mo, Dublin, 1774), performed at York, and once at the Haymarket.
  2. ‘The Coquette; or the Mistakes of the Heart; a comedy’ (anon.), 8vo, Bath, 1777, acted at York and Hull. It is not without merit; the plot is taken from Mrs. Haywood's novel of ‘Betsy Thoughtless.’
  3. ‘An Historical View of the Irish Stage from the earliest period … with theatrical anecdotes,’ 2 vols. 12mo, Dublin, 1788–94.

[Baker's Biographia Dramatica (Reed and Jones), i. 348, ii. 128, iii. 1.]

G. G.