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 The grave of Thomas Potter Cooke at Brompton Cemetery in London. Picture by Androom (16 Jun 2022) |
Cooke, Thomas Potter |
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BORN 23 Apr 1786, London: Titchfield Street, Marylebone - DIED 10 Apr 1864, London: 37 Thurloe Square, Brompton GRAVE LOCATION London: Brompton Cemetery, Old Brompton Road, West Brompton (Y 102 x 151) |
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Thomas Cooke was the son of a surgeon. His father died when he was six years old. As an under age he joined the navy and he sailed on the HMS Raven to Toulon and he saw action at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent in 1797. He escaped from drowning near Cuxhaven when HMS Raven was lost. His naval career ended in 1802 with the Peace of Amiens. In 1804 he debuted as an actor at the Royalty Theatre in Wellclose Square, London. At Astley's Amphitheatre he played Lord Nelson. In 1809 Robert William Elliston hired him as stage manager for the Surrey Theatre. In 1816 he appeared at Drury Lane. His role as Lord Ruthven in "The Vampyre" was a great succes on 9 August 1822. In 1823 he played the monster in a stage adaption of Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein". The premiere was attended by Mary's father William Godwin. In 1827 he worked in Edinburgh and after that he appeared at the Adelphi Theatre in London. His role of William in Douglas Jerrold's "Black-Eyed Susan" was another succes at the Surrey Theatre where he played it over 100 times. After that he appeared in the same play at Covent Garden until 1834. His last appearance was on 29 October 1860, again as William in "Black-Eyed Susan". Events |
| 28/7/1823 | William Godwin attends the theatre premiere of "Frankenstein" at the English Opera House. The book "Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus" was written by his daughter Mary Shelley. It was adapted for the stage by Richard Brinsley Peake as " Presumption; or, the Fate of Frankenstein". James William Wallack was Victor Frankenstein and Thomas Potter Cooke played the monster. Further actorss were Robert Keeley and Mary Ann Povey. The play originally ran for 37 performances and it was revived several times at the English Opera House. [Godwin, William][Shelley, Mary] |
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The grave of Thomas Potter Cooke at Brompton Cemetery in London. Picture by Androom (16 Jun 2022) |
Sources • St Clair, William, The Godwins and the Shelleys, Faber and Faber, London, 1990 • Thomas Cooke (actor) - Wikipedia (EN) |
