William O'Brien (c.1740-1815) was an Irish actor and
playwright.William O'Brien was probably born in County Clare in about
1740 to a family which claimed a distant connection to the Viscounts
Clare. His father was a fencing master in Dublin David Garrick brought
O'Brien over to London from Dublin in 1758 to join his actor's company
at Drury Lane. O'Brien was successful in a number of roles,
particularly Shakespeare and contemporary comedies. O'Brien was an
actor in the company of He eloped with Lady Susannah "Susan"
Fox-Strangways, eldest daughter of Stephen Fox, the first Earl of
Ilchester, whom he had met when they both performed in amateur
theatricals at Holland House. Their marriage, which took place on 7
April 1764 at St. Paul's Church, Covent Gardens, was disapproved of by
Lady Susan's family.Following the marriage, O'Brien retired from the
stage. The couple were forced for a time to travel to North America,
because of the social scandal caused by their elopement. They set sail
for New York in September 1764. Although neither husband nor wife were
happy there, they travelled widely, sailing up the Hudson, travelling
west to Niagara Falls, and then north to Quebec where O'Brien briefly
served as a barrack master. In 1768, he was gazetted Secretary and
Provost-Master-General of the Bermudas.On their return to England in
1770, the O'Briens lived for a time in London where O'Brien entered a
brief but unsuccessful career as a playwright. He was the author of
two plays, Cross-Purposes (1772) and The Duel (1773). The diarist
James Boswell described O'Brien as "a lively little fellow, but
priggish" and "quite the fine man about town".
playwright.William O'Brien was probably born in County Clare in about
1740 to a family which claimed a distant connection to the Viscounts
Clare. His father was a fencing master in Dublin David Garrick brought
O'Brien over to London from Dublin in 1758 to join his actor's company
at Drury Lane. O'Brien was successful in a number of roles,
particularly Shakespeare and contemporary comedies. O'Brien was an
actor in the company of He eloped with Lady Susannah "Susan"
Fox-Strangways, eldest daughter of Stephen Fox, the first Earl of
Ilchester, whom he had met when they both performed in amateur
theatricals at Holland House. Their marriage, which took place on 7
April 1764 at St. Paul's Church, Covent Gardens, was disapproved of by
Lady Susan's family.Following the marriage, O'Brien retired from the
stage. The couple were forced for a time to travel to North America,
because of the social scandal caused by their elopement. They set sail
for New York in September 1764. Although neither husband nor wife were
happy there, they travelled widely, sailing up the Hudson, travelling
west to Niagara Falls, and then north to Quebec where O'Brien briefly
served as a barrack master. In 1768, he was gazetted Secretary and
Provost-Master-General of the Bermudas.On their return to England in
1770, the O'Briens lived for a time in London where O'Brien entered a
brief but unsuccessful career as a playwright. He was the author of
two plays, Cross-Purposes (1772) and The Duel (1773). The diarist
James Boswell described O'Brien as "a lively little fellow, but
priggish" and "quite the fine man about town".
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