Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography/Davidge, William Pleater

DAVIDGE, William Pleater, actor, b. near Ludgate Hill, London, England, 17 April, 1814; d. in Cheyenne, W. T., 7 Aug., 1888. He joined an amateur dramatic society, and appeared first at Drury Lane theatre, in the part of James in “The Miller's Maid.” He appeared at Nottingham in 1836, and acted in London, on 26 Sept. of that year, in the “Haunted Tower.” After acting in Great Britain, he settled in Manchester, and in 1850 came to the United States, where he made his first appearance in the old Broadway theatre, New York, as the blacksmith in “Used Up.” He supported the popular stars of the day — Edwin Forrest, Gustavus V. Brooke, Julia Dean, Lola Montez, and others — and, after leaving the old Broadway theatre in 1855, made a tour through the country. He was a member of F. B. Conway's “star combination,” and in 1863 was one of Mrs. John Wood's company at the Olympic theatre, where he remained two seasons. He afterward took part in the Shakespearean revivals at Winter Garden theatre, and, in August, 1867, appeared as Eccles, in “Caste,” at the new Broadway theatre near Broome street. He was at Daly's Fifth avenue theatre from 1869 till 1877, then travelled with Miss Fanny Davenport's company, and in 1879 was the original Dick Deadeye, in “Pinafore,” at the Standard theatre. In 1885 he became a member of the Madison square theatre company. Mr. Davidge played over one thousand parts during his career, and played them all with zeal, intelligence, and humor. Among his best parts, besides those already mentioned, were Bishopriggs in “Man and Wife,” Old Hardy in the “Belle's Stratagem,” Hardcastle in “She Stoops to Conquer,” and Croaker in “The Good-Natured Man.” In Shakespeare's comedies he was successful as Caliban, Touchstone, Dogberry, Nick Bottom, and Old Gobbo. — His son, William, comedian, b. in Manchester, England, 11 March, 1847, made his first appearance in the French theatre, New York, in the burlesque of “The Lady of the Lions.”