Sothern, Edward Askew (1826-1881)

Sothern, Edward Askew

ACTOR (ENGLAND)

BORN 1 Apr 1826, Liverpool, Merseyside: The Priory, St Michael's Hamlet - DIED 21 Jan 1881, London: 1 Vere Street, Cavendish Square
GRAVE LOCATION Southampton, Hampshire: Old Cemetery, Hill Lane (A 004 063)

Edward Sothern was born in Liverpool as the son of the merchant John Sothern (1791-1848). He started acting as an amateur and worked as a clerk but in 1849 he became a professional at St. Helies, Jersey. He acted under the name of Douglas Stewart. He married Fanny Stewart and they had four children.

He performed at Portsmouth, Wolverhampton and Birmingham before he went to the USA in 1852. Intially his wife often performed with him but they were little successful. In 1857 he joined Laura Keene's company in New York. By this time he used his own name. In 1858 he appeared in Tom Taylor's "Our American Cousin". The play was not very special and at first he only had a small part, but he played the typical Englishman Lord Dundreary so well that the play became an unexpected success. It ran for 150 nights, saving the season for Laura Keene.

By the time the play was produced at the Haymarket in London Lord Dundreary had become the central figure and it was performed 496 times in London. He played Lord Dundreary over and over again and the play was also staged in the USA by its owner Laura Keene without him. In 1865 Lincoln was watching "Our American Cousin" with Laura Keene onstage when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth. In 1872 Sothern acquired the copyrights for the USA and Canada from Laura Keene including the original manuscript for $2,690.

Although his name is linked to Lord Dundreary forever he was also convincing in "David Garrack" (1864) by T.W. Robertson. In private he was very fond of practical jokes and he was often visited by well known people at his house in Kensington.

He died in 1881 after a severe illness in London and according to his own wishes he was buried in Southampton. Shortly before his death he changed his will and he left most of his posessions to his sister Mary Cowan instead of to his wife and children. His wife died in 1882 and his four children all became actors. After her death, his sister was buried in his grave.

Related persons
• cooperated with Keene, Laura

Events

15/1/1858

Premiere of Tom Taylor's "Our American Cousin" at Laura Keene's Theatre in New York City. The title part was played by Joseph Jefferson, who played Asa Trenchard. Edward Askew Sothern played Lord Dundreary and Laura Keene was in the cast as well and played Florence Trenchard. Charles Couldock played Abel Murcott. The play ran for over 150 performances and Sothern expanded his role gradually. [Keene, Laura]

11/11/1861

First performance of "Our American Cousin" at the Haymarket Theatre in London. The play by Tom Taylor had been a huge success in New York City in 1858. Like in New York, E.A. Sothern played Lord Dundreary. It ran for 36 performance until 21 December 1861. On 27 January 1862 it was revived and this time it ran for 314 performances until 23 Decembewr 1862.