Ira Frederick Aldridge (July 24, 1807 â€" August 7, 1867) was an
American and later British stage actor and playwright who made his
career after 1824 largely on the London stage and in Europe,
especially in Shakespearean roles. Born in New York City, Aldridge is
the only actor of African-American descent among the 33 actors of the
English stage honoured with bronze plaques at the Shakespeare Memorial
Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon. He was especially popular in Prussia
and Russia, where he received top honors from heads of state. At the
time of his sudden death, while on tour in Poland, he was arranging a
triumphant return to America, with a planned 100-show tour to the
United States.He was married twice, once to an Englishwoman, once to a
Swedish woman, and had a family in England. Two of his daughters
became professional opera singers.Aldridge was born in New York City
to Reverend Daniel and Luranah (also spelled Lurona) Aldridge on July
24, 1807. At the age of 13, Aldridge went to the African Free School
in New York City, established by the New York Manumission Society for
the children of free black people and slaves. They were given a
classical education, with the study of English grammar, writing,
mathematics, geography, and astronomy. His classmates at the African
free school included Charles L. Reason, George T. Downing, and Henry
Highland Garnet. His early exposure to theater included viewing plays
from the high balcony of the Park Theatre, New York's leading theater
of the time, and seeing productions of Shakespeare's plays at the
African Grove Theatre.
American and later British stage actor and playwright who made his
career after 1824 largely on the London stage and in Europe,
especially in Shakespearean roles. Born in New York City, Aldridge is
the only actor of African-American descent among the 33 actors of the
English stage honoured with bronze plaques at the Shakespeare Memorial
Theatre at Stratford-upon-Avon. He was especially popular in Prussia
and Russia, where he received top honors from heads of state. At the
time of his sudden death, while on tour in Poland, he was arranging a
triumphant return to America, with a planned 100-show tour to the
United States.He was married twice, once to an Englishwoman, once to a
Swedish woman, and had a family in England. Two of his daughters
became professional opera singers.Aldridge was born in New York City
to Reverend Daniel and Luranah (also spelled Lurona) Aldridge on July
24, 1807. At the age of 13, Aldridge went to the African Free School
in New York City, established by the New York Manumission Society for
the children of free black people and slaves. They were given a
classical education, with the study of English grammar, writing,
mathematics, geography, and astronomy. His classmates at the African
free school included Charles L. Reason, George T. Downing, and Henry
Highland Garnet. His early exposure to theater included viewing plays
from the high balcony of the Park Theatre, New York's leading theater
of the time, and seeing productions of Shakespeare's plays at the
African Grove Theatre.
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