Started by Private User on Wednesday, December 29, 2010. When Charles Beauclerk (pictured above right and left) was six years old, on the arrival of the King, Nell said, "Come here, you little bastard, and say hello to your father." [35] He was one of a handful of court wits, the "merry gang" as named by Andrew Marvell. She was illiterate and scrawled an awkward E.G. at the bottom of her letters, written for her by others. [52] Her family's history has been published in the authoritative book: The House of Nell Gwyn (1974). She is especially remembered for one particularly apt witticism, which was recounted in the memoirs of the Comte de Gramont, remembering the events of 1681: Nell Gwynn was one day passing through the streets of Oxford, in her coach, when the mob mistaking her for her rival, the Duchess of Portsmouth, commenced hooting and loading her with every opprobrious epithet. This was no easy task in the Restoration theatre; the limited pool of audience members meant that very short runs were the norm for plays and fifty different productions might be mounted in the nine-month season lasting from September to June. In response, Charles created him Earl of Burford. She was said to have been remembered by Charles on his deathbed with the words 'Let not poor Nelly starve'. However, as they gained attention, skill and fame, they could make greater demands of writers, and parts began to get better. The King was seated in the next box and by all accounts was more interested in watching Nell rather than Etherege's play. The favourite mistress of King Charles II, Gwynn started out as a prostitute, giving that up to flog oranges in theatres, which got her a break on the stage at a time when female actresses were a completely novel idea. After supper, the king discovered that he had no money on him to pay, nor it seemed did his brother and Nell had to pay the bill. When Charles II died in February 1685, Nell was so deeply in debt that she was outlawed by her creditors. [2] The eight-year difference between these two possible birth years can offer different readings of what Gwyn achieved during her lifetime. W. Nelthorp B'eauclerk, our minister, Beauclerk, of the North Staffordshire Regi. [citation needed] He became colonel in the 8th regiment of horse in 1687, and served with the emperor Leopold I, being present at the siege of Belgrade in 1688.[1]. Donations welcome King Charles II died at Whitehall Palace, London, probably of uremia, a syndrome caused by dysfunction of the kidneys, on 6th February 1685. Three cities make the claim to be Gwyn's birthplace: Hereford, London (specifically Covent Garden) and Oxford. Moreover, Wood did not give a forename for the supposed grandfather of Nell and there are reasons to think that the "Dr Gwyn" in the pedigree was intended to be not Edmund Gwyn but rather his brother Matthew. A satire of the time describes this and also Hart's position now, in the face of competition from the upper echelons of society: Yet Hart more manners had, then not to tender Perhaps she just served the drinks and dreamed of treading the boards French fashions were hugely popular, so it's not surprising that London was keen to follow in the Parisian's footsteps. "[36] Gwyn was acting once more in late August, and her brief affair with Buckhurst had ended. They certainly enjoyed secret nights playing cards together away from prying eyes. Descendant of Nell Gwynn makes last stand for lords Paul Waugh, Political Correspondent Comments MORE THAN 800 years of parliamentary tradition went out with It is claimed that there are some two thousand living descendants of King Charles II and Nell Gwyn. She died at the age of 37, from apoplexy "almost certainly due to the acquired variety of syphilis" at ten in the evening on 14 November 1687. She was probably his favourite mistress. Children of Eleanor Gwynne and Charles II Stuart, King of Great Britain, Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St. Albans+ b. In terms of what we know, records tell that Nell sold 'strong waters' to the punters in her mother's brothel, that she may have been a herring gutter or a street seller and that she sold oranges at the theatre in Drury Lane. WebNell Gwynn (c. 16501687) The descendants of Holy Roman Empire monarchies became feeble-minded in the twentieth century, and after World War I had been done in to Lord Curzon in India. 8 May 1670, d. 11 May 1726, James Beauclerk, Lord Beauclerk b. She is also believed, by most Gwyn biographers, to have been "low-born". [16] Orange Moll hired Nell and her elder sister Rose as scantily clad orange-girls, selling the small, sweet "china" oranges to the audience inside the theatre for a sixpence each. Charles had secret passages built so that he could visit her without others knowing. JThe, .dukedom has passed in a most curious .\ray, down to the present holder, who Is an extra, 'A.D.O. [25], There is some debate over the year The Mad Couple debuted, with earlier authorities believing it to be 1667. She was said to have been remembered by Charles on his deathbed with the words Sitter associated with 30 portraitsEleanor Gywn, or 'Pretty witty Nell', as Pepys called her, came to London as an orange-seller, and rose to become one of the leading comic actresses of the day, and mistress to the King, Charles II. Sent to school in Paris when he was six, he died there in 1681. When the King protested, she replied, "Your Majesty has given me no other name by which to call him." Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind. Her father was of Welsh descent, a soldier ruined by the civil war, he is said to have died in a debtors prison in Oxford, Nell probably had no memory of him. According to the London Encyclopedia (Macmillan, 1983) she "entertained Charles II here with little concerts and breakfasts". His descendant Their relationship lasted perhaps two years and was reported with obscenity-laced acidity in several later satires; "For either with expense of purse or p---k, / At length the weary fool grew Nelly-sick". At the height of the Exclusion Crisis, when the religious feeling was at boiling point, Nell's coach was attacked by an angry mob who mistook her for the Catholic foreign mistress. Gwyn returned to the stage again in late 1670, something Beauclerk calls an "extraordinary thing to do" for a mistress with a royal child. In March 1687 Nell was stricken by apoplexy and partial paralysis. WebNell Gwynn, the mistress of Charles II, was a famous denizen of London. Nell was attending a performance of George Etherege's play 'She Wou'd if She Cou'd' at Lincoln's Inn Fields theatre. Ancestors Daughter of Leland Giddens Gwynn and Dellia Lucille (Pierce) Gwynn She remained a member of the Drury Lane acting company until 1669, playing continuously except for a short period in Epsom in the Summer of 1667, when she lived as the mistress of Charles Sackville, styled Lord Buckhurst and later 6th Earl of Dorset. WebCharacter Nancy Show Nell Gwynn Gender Female Age Range Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Role Size Supporting Voice Non-singer Time & Place London, England, Seventeenth Century Tags dresser working class theatre english accent londoner wooden knowing experienced plain-spoken confidante relief Analysis One way or another, Gwyn's father seems to have been out of the picture by the time of her childhood in Covent Garden, and her "dipsomaniac mother, [and] notorious sister", Rose, were left in a low situation. Buckingham had an alternative plan, which was to set the King up with Moll Davis, an actress with the rival Duke's Company. [1] On the other hand, an account published in The New Monthly Magazine and Humorist in 1838 states that she was born about 1642. Quickly attracting the attention of the theatres leading actor, Charles Hart, whose mistress she became, Nell mounted the stage and probably made her first appearance in December 1665. For example, The Bodleian Manuscript of The Siege of Urbin has the part of Pedro (Melina- a maid servant in breeches) played by a 'Mrs. In May 1665, she appeared opposite Hart in James Howard's comedy All Mistaken, or the Mad Couple. The Maiden Queen featured breeches roles, where the actress appeared in men's clothes under one pretence or another, and as Bax supposes "was one of the first occasions upon which a woman appeared in the disguise of a man";[33] if nothing else this could draw an audience eager to see the women show off their figures in the more form-fitting male attire. She supposedly caught his eye during an April performance of All Mistaken, or The Mad Couple, especially in one scene in which, to escape a hugely fat suitor able to move only by rolling, she rolls across the stage herself, her feet toward the audience and her petticoats flying about. The information we have about Gwyn is collected from various sources, including the plays she starred in, satirical poetry and pictures, diaries, and letters. After the Battle of Landen in 1693, William III made Beauclerk captain of the gentlemen pensioners, and four years later gentleman of the bedchamber. Charles supposedly cried out "God save the Earl of Burford!" (Beauclerk, p. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stage, she became best known for being a long-time mistress of King Charles II of England. by his father^ Charles 11., in 1683. The first, and most popular, is that when Charles was six years old, on the arrival of the King, Gwyn said, "Come here, you little bastard, and say hello to your father." RootsChat.com cannot be held responsible directly or indirectly for the messages or content posted by others. The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. The diarist, Samuel Pepys, reported himself delighted by the performance of "pretty, witty Nell", watching her as Florimel in Dryden's Secret Love, or the Maiden Queen he wrote- "so great a performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the world before..so done by Nell her merry part as cannot be better done in nature". But so great performance of a comical part was never, I believe, in the world before as Nell do this, both as a mad girl, then most and best of all when she comes in like a young gallant; and hath the notions and carriage of a spark the most that ever I saw any man have. When the King protested against her calling Charles that, she replied, "Your Majesty has given me no other name by which to call him." In the 1840s, there was a house on the site of Nell Gwynn House in which the member of parliament George Thompson lived. [2] It deals with the life of Nell Gwynn, mistress of Charles II, and her part in the theatre of the 17th century. Nell was was the daughter of Thomas and Ellen Gwynn, her place of birth is disputed, with some sources stating Pipe Well Lane in Hereford, which was renamed Gwynne Street in the nineteenth century, while others state she was born in London. Aphra Behn, Britain's first female professional playwright, wasn't far behind. : 1866 - 1939), Sat 27 Oct 1900, The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Sir John Wynn (d.1626, aet 73) is famous as the author of 'The History of the Gwydir Family' and one of the most prominent Welshmen of his day. Several of their children went on to become prominent members of society, such as Vere If her good looks, strong clear voice, and lively wit were responsible for catching the eye of Killigrew, she still had to prove herself clever enough to succeed as an actress. Partner of Charles II of England Charles is known to have denied paternity of her second son who was born in 1663, but Barbara, renowned for her furious temper, stamped her foot shouting "God damn me, but you shall own it!" Nell Gwyns grave is St Martin-in-the-Fields Churchyard, Westminster. Beauclerk, pp. [38], Late in 1667, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham took on the role of unofficial manager for Gwyn's love affairs. Hate serious plays, as I do serious parts. If you tick permission to publish your name will appear above your contribution on our website. This work presents the story of her Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Descendant of Nell Gwynn makes last stand for lords, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Get up to 10% off using the Booking.com app, $6 off a $50+ order with this AliExpress discount code, 15% off orders over 15 using this eBay discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK April 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this April, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Called "pretty, witty Nell" by Pepys, she has been regarded as a living embodiment of the spirit of Restoration England and has come to be considered a folk heroine, with a story echoing the rags-to-royalty tale of Cinderella. Although not yet a hereditary peer, the heir to the St Albans dukedom was allowed to sit on the steps of the throne, from where he seized his moment of glory. She was buried on 30 July 1679, in her 56th year, at St Martin in the Fields. He also gave her a house at 79, Pall Mall, where John Evelyn reported seeing her leaning over her garden wall chaffing her royal lover. Mother of Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St. Albans; James, Lord Beauclerk and Stuart, Wikipedia: English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nell_Gwynne, Eleanor Gwynne also went by the nick-name of Nell.1 She and Charles II Stuart, King of Great Britain were associated. +44(0)20 7306 0055, Admission free. So, whilst it could be seen as a liberating moment when women arrived on stage for the first time, in their earliest roles they were often little more than objects to be gazed at. His Whig sentiments prevented his advancement under Queen Anne, but he was restored to favour at the accession of King George I. The obscurity surrounding Gwyn's date of birth parallels numerous other obscurities that run through the course of her life. Whatever her first role as an actress may have been, it is evident that she had become a more prominent actress by 1665. WebNell Gwyn, original name Eleanor Gwyn, (born Feb. 2, 1650, London, Eng.died Nov. 14, 1687, London), English actress and mistress of Charles II, whose frank recklessness, generosity, The attraction had another dynamic: the theatres sometimes had a hard time holding onto their actresses, as they were swept up to become the kept mistresses of the aristocracy. The details of Gwyn's background are somewhat obscure. We use cookies to ensure you have the best browsing experience and to help us improve our website. Nell Gwyn, original name Eleanor Gwyn, (born Feb. 2, 1650, London, Eng.died Nov. 14, 1687, London), English actress and mistress of Charles II, whose frank recklessness, generosity, invariable good temper, ready wit, infectious high spirits, and amazing indiscretions appealed irresistibly to a generation that welcomed in her the living antithesis of Puritanism. Learn more about near-Earth objects and what the impact they could have, Search our online database and exploreour objects, paintings, archives and library collectionsfrom home, Come behind the scenes at our state-of-the-art conservation studio, Visit the world's largest maritime library and archive collection at the National Maritime Museum, The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea, Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition, A Sea of Drawings: the art of the Van de Veldes, The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre. WebNell gave birth to her first son, Charles Beauclerk, on 8 May 1670. found in England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Just after the death of Henry Jermyn, 1st Earl of St Albans, at the turn of the year, on 5 January 1684, King Charles granted his son Charles, Earl of Burford, the title of Duke of St Albans, gave him an allowance of 1,000 a year, and granted him the offices of Chief Ranger of Enfield Chace and Master of the Hawks in reversion (i. e. after the death of the current incumbents). Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Family. [37] Pepys reports that by 22 August 1667, Gwyn had returned to the King's Playhouse in The Indian Emperour. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. Yeah, we are all equal, but those with links to the peerage can find out more about their ancestors . She persuaded the king to create her son Charles Beauclerk, 1st Baron Heddington and Earl of Burford and, subsequently, Duke of St. Albans. In May, a second stroke left her confined to the bed in her Pall Mall house; she made out her will on 9 July and a codicil on 18 October with her executors, Laurence Hyde (the Earl of Rochester), Thomas Earl of Pembroke, Sir Robert Sawyer the Attorney General, and Henry Sidney each receiving 100. If they inspire you please support our work. Search here. Around 1662, Nell is said to have taken a lover by the name of Duncan or Dungan. [27], After the theatres reopened, Gwyn and Hart returned to play role after role that fit the mould of the gay couple, including in James Howard's The English Monsieur (December 1666), Richard Rhodes' Flora's Vagaries, an adaptation of John Fletcher's The Chances by George Villiers, and then in their greatest success, Secret Love, or The Maiden Queen.[28]. On 26 August, Pepys learns from Moll Davis that, 'Nell is already left by my Lord Buckhurst, and that he makes sport of her, and swears she hath had all she could get of him; and Hart, her great admirer, now hates her; and that she is very poor, and hath lost my Lady Castlemayne, who was her great friend also but she is come to the House, but is neglected by them all'. Although she left considerable debts, always charitable in memory of her father, in her will she left a legacy to the Newgate prisoners in London. nell gwynn. The earlier date of birth was asserted without documentation, but various scholars have supported both the earlier and later dates. The author of her 1752 biography relates a conversation (more than likely fabricated) between Gwyn and Charles II in which he, feeling at a loss, said, "O, Nell! brated actress and favourite of Charles II. I always assume (I know, I shouldn't!, Dunning/Downing, Osborn/e, Astley -Cheshire/Birmingham/Middlesex. Edward J. Davies, "Nell Gwyn and 'Dr Gwyn of Ch. Read 39 reviews from the worlds largest community for readers. The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. went to South .Africa with the 17th Lancers. Putting her head out of the coach window, "Good people", she said, smiling, "you are mistaken; I am the Protestant whore."[58]. She retained Charles' II affection as much by her wit as her looks and their relationship was to last for sixteen years. When the King died in 1685 Nells creditors descended upon her she never did starve, but was in grave danger of being sent to a Debtors prison. She appealed to King James and to his credit, he settled her immediate debts and gave her a pension of 1500 a year. He was six, he settled her immediate debts and gave her a pension 1500... The details of Gwyn 's background are somewhat obscure obscurity surrounding Gwyn birthplace! 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