Background
He was born on the 27th of October 1739, the son of a clergyman.
He was born on the 27th of October 1739, the son of a clergyman.
His first attempts at acting were badly received, and it was to his wonderful gift of mimicry that he owed his success. His imitations, however, naturally gave offence to the important actors and managers whose peculiarities he hit off to the life. Garrick, Peg Woffington, Samuel Foote and Sheridan, after being delighted with the imitations of the others, were among the most angry, when it came to their turn, and threatened never to forgive him.
Garrick never did.
As an actor, Wilkinson was most successful in Foote"s plays, but his list of parts was a long one. In Shakespearian characters he was very popular in the provinces. The Theatre, Leeds, built to his order in 1771, was part of the circuit.
He directed with excellent judgment and prosperity for over 30 years.
His oddities were notorious, but he was a generous manager. See his Memoirs (4 vols, 1790) and The Wandering Patentee (4 vols, 1795).
Among Wilkinson"s actors were
Mission Farren
Julia Glover
Dorothea Jordan (later mistress of William IV) from 1782 to 1785. Elizabeth Satchell
Mistress
Siddons and the other Kembles
Dicky Suett.