A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Mowatt, Anna Cora
MOWATT, ANNA CORA,
Was born in France. Her father, Mr. Ogden, was a wealthy and highly respected citizen of New York. On her mother's side, she is descended from Francis Lewis, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Ogden having involved his fortune in the well-known Miranda expedition, embarked in mercantile business, which obliged him to remove to Bordeaux, where he resided several years. He was the father of seventeen children, of whom Mrs. Mowatt was the tenth. These young people possessed histrionic talent in a remarkable degree, which developed itself during this residence in France. The fine old chateau in which they resided, a short distance from the town, possessed, as many of those old French houses do, a little theatre, and it was here that they early began to exercise their talents.
When Anna was about six years old, Mr. Ogden returned to his native land. The children, however, continued to pursue their theatrical amusements, and the little Anna became remarkable for her skill in reading aloud. At thirteen, she was an insatiable reader. Among other works, she studied a great number of French plays, altering several of Voltaire's for private theatricals, in which she took a part. When scarcely more than fourteen, she attracted the attention of Mr. Mowatt, a wealthy lawyer of New York, a visitor in her father's family, who soon after proposed for her. The proposal was accepted by all parties, her father stipulating that the marriage should be deferred till Anna had attained her seventeenth year.
Meanwhile, the youthful fiancée continued her studies, attending school as formerly. Domestic clouds, however, soon began to darken, as is proverbially the case, around this "course of true love." There was some danger of the match being broken off, and to prevent any further difficulty, an elopement was decided upon. This was effected during the bustle and confusion attending the preparations for a play, which the young people were to act, in honour of their father's birthday. The youthful bride was soon pardoned and received by her affectionate parents; her husband's residence, a fine estate about four miles from New York, allowing her still, from its near neighbourhood, to form a part of the family circle. Here, surrounded by wealth and every indulgence, Mrs Mowatt continued her studies with untiring ardour, devoting herself principally to the study of French, Spanish, and music, and never turned Aside from these important occupations by the calls made upon her by society, which her social accomplishments rendered her so well fitted to adorn. During the first two years of her married life she published her first works, two volumes of poems, which, however, do not possess more merit than belongs to the ordinary run of juvenile productions. She occasionally exercised her skill in writing and arranging little dramatic pieces for private performance, which amusements lent their aid in embellishing this brilliant period of her life.
Mrs. Mowatt's health now began to decline—great fears were entertained of consumption—and a voyage to Europe was decided upon. Mr. Mowatt's professional engagements prevented his leaving New York, she accompanied some members of her family abroad. She remained in Bremen three months, when, being joined by her husband, they repaired to Paris. Here, where they had every opportunity of mingling in the most influential society of that gay and intelligent capital, she found time for study. She devoted herself to the acquirement of the Italian language, and wrote a play, in five acts, called "Guizare, or the Persian Slave," which was afterwards published, though originally written for a private circle. After an absence of a year and a half, they returned to the United States; soon after which, clouds began to darken over their once prosperous career. In consequence of Mr. Mowatt's residence abroad, and partly from an affection of the eyes, he gave up his profession of the law, and embarked to a considerable extent in commercial speculations. Unfortunately, very soon after, one of those commercial crisis occurred that convulse the whole mercantile world, and ruin, which it was impossible to avert, was impending over them. The weakness of his eyes prevented Mr. Mowatt from returning to his profession, and they were without resource.
Some time before these domestic events occurred, dramatic readings had met with great success in various cities of the Union. Mrs. Mowatt had heard these readings, and when their misfortunes fell upon them, the idea of turning her own talents to account in the same manner occurred to her. She had many difficulties to contend with in taking such a step. The injustice of society, which degrades woman in the social scale, if by her own honourable exertions she endeavours to labour for money, would operate against her, and of course influence her friends to oppose a project which must bring her before the public almost in the character of a dramatic performer. The consent of her husband being obtained however, she quietly made all the arrangements for her first attempt, which was to take place in Boston, delaying to inform her father of the step she contemplated, till her departure for that city She had, however, the happiness to receive his full approval before her first appearance. Her success in Boston far exceeded her expectations; and in Providence and New York, where she continued her readings, it was confirmed. Mrs. Mowatt suffered much from the disapprobation expressed by her friends at her having undertaken this public career, which was deemed by them a degradation—a forfeiture of caste. Her health gave way, and for two years she was a confirmed invalid.
About this time, Mr. Mowatt became principal partner in a publishing concern, and the whole force of Mrs. Mowatt's mind was turned to aid him. Under the name of Helen Berkley, she wrote a series of articles which became very popular, and were translated into German, and republished in London. The success of these productions induced Mrs. Mowatt to write in her own name; and "she was accused by a wise critic of copying the witty Helen Berkley!" Her desultory writings were numerous and various. Unfortunately, the publishing business in which Mr. Mowatt was engaged proved unsuccessful, and new trials came upon them.
Being told that nothing would be so productive as dramatic writings, Mrs. Mowatt, in 1845, wrote her first comedy, called "Fashion," which was brought out with much splendour at the Park Theatre, New York. Its success was brilliant; and in Philadelphia it was performed with equal eclat. In less than two months after, she accepted the offer of an engagement from the manager of the Park Theatre, and made her debut in New York in the Lady of Lyons. Her success was complete, and her vocation was decided upon.
After a series of profitable engagements in the principal cities of the Union, Mr. and Mrs. Mowatt embarked for this country; and in December, 1847, she made her first appearance before a foreign audience in Manchester. Her success was such, that a London engagement at the Princess's Theatre followed, where she performed for several weeks. A brilliant engagement in Dublin was soon after completed; since which time, her professional career continued to be successful in England, till interrupted by the loss of her husband, who died in London, in February, 1851. Mrs. Mowatt is slight and graceful in form, with a lovely countenance possessing all the principal requisites of beauty. In character she is "brave-hearted in adversity, benevolent, unselfish, and devoted."