Sidney Frances Cowell

Background

Sidney Frances Cowell was born on March 29, 1823 in New Jersey, United States. She was the daughter of Joseph Cowell, comedian and theater manager.

Career

Cowell began her acting career in New Orleans at the age of fourteen. In 1871 she started to manage the Lyceum Theather. Later she became manager of the Sadler's Wells Theatre, a position she held until her death.

She was the first to bring to England an entire American company with an American play, Joaquin Miller's The Danites. She was also the author of several popular plays, in one of which, Self (1857), she and her husband made a great success. She also wrote The Golden Calf; or, Marriage á la Mode (1857), Evangeline (1860) and Fanchette; or, The Will o' the Wisp (1871).

Achievements

• Sidney Frances Cowell became well-known as a playwright. The play "Her Self" (1857) was considered the most successful of her works. It was one of the first three "society" plays written by a woman for the American stage.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• Sidney Cowell: "In her youth [my aunt] was a delightful actress and a beautiful woman. She was gentle and retiring, but of very fair judgement and executive ability. She was always the power behind the throne in all the elaborate productions credited to her husband and daughter. "

Connections

Sidney was married to Hezekiah Linthicum Bateman, also an actor.

Father:

Joseph Cowell

Spouse:

Hezekiah Linthicum Bateman

References

• Curiosities of the American Stage
• An Outline History of American Drama
• Representative Plays by American Dramatists: From 1765 to the Present Day, 1815-1858