Honner, born at Enniskillen, Ireland, 21 December 1812, was a daughter of Eugene Macarthy, actor and manager, who died in the Dramatic College at Maybury, Surrey, 14 May 1866, aged 78. Educated at Cork, she lost her mother at an early age, and being thrown on her own resources, with a younger brother to support, made a first appearance on the stage at a theatre in the south of Ireland.
She afterwards played in Dublin, and as the hero of juvenile tragedy attracted the notice of Edmund Kean and William Charles Macready. Her first important character was Rosalie Somers in Thomas Morton"s Town and Country, which she played to Edmund Kean. An engagement in Scotland followed, and she became a popular favourite.
In 1831 she was engaged by John Farrell for the Pavilion Theatre, London, where for two seasons she was the leading attraction.
In 1833 she transferred her services to the Coburg Theatre, and, on the retirement of G. B. Davidge the lessee, removed to Sadler"s Wells, where Robert William Honner was the manager. After the successful termination of two seasons she went to the Surrey Theatre.
At the request of Davidge she returned to the Surrey, where she remained until 17 September 1845, and then went to the City of London Theatre.
She was a good actress in pathetic rôles, and after the retirement of Elizabeth Yates was for a time without a rival.
