Siddons, Henry (1774-1815)

Siddons, Henry

ACTOR, THEATRE MANAGER (ENGLAND)

BORN 4 Oct 1774 - DIED 12 Apr 1815, Edinburgh
GRAVE LOCATION Edinburgh: Greyfriars Kirkyard, 26A Candlemaker Row (south-west corner, left of entrance to Covenanters Prison)

Henry Siddons was the first child of the famous actress Sara Siddons. He was educated at Charterhouse School. His mother intended him to enter the chirch, but he joined the Covent Garden Theatre Company and debuted as Herman in "Integrity" on 8 October 1801. Harriet Murray appeared was in the same piece and they married in 1802. His mother accepted that his choice to be an actor and he remained at Covent Garden until 1805.

In 1805 he switched to Drury Lane with his wife and on 21 September 1805 he first appeared there as Prince of Wales in "Henry IV". His engagement at Drury Lane lasted until 1809. With the help of Sir Walter Scott he obtained the lease of the Edinburgh Theatre. As an actor he debuted there on 14 November 1809 as the Duke in "The Honeymoon", with his wife playing Juliana.

Scott supported him in Edinburgh and he brought new talents to the theatre, but financially his management was unsuccessful and he lost a lot of money. In 1815 he died in Edinburgh, only fourty years old.

Family
• Mother: Siddons, Sarah
• Wife: Murray, Harriet (1802-1815)
• Sister: Siddons, Cecilia

Images

The grave of Henry Siddons and Harriet Murray at Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh.
Picture by Androom (06 Nov 2019)