Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/Bufton, Eleanor
BUFTON, ELEANOR (afterwards Mrs. Arthur Swanborough) (1840?–1893), actress, was born in Wales about 1840 and made her first professional appearance at Edinburgh as chambermaid in 'The Clandestine Marriage.' In 1854 she played at the St. James's Vanette in 'Honour before Titles.' Joining the Princess's company under Charles Kean, she was on 15 Oct. 1856 Hermia in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' On 1 July 1857 she was Ferdinand in the 'Tempest,' a curious experiment, said to have been made for the first time. She was also Regan in 'Lear.' From the Princess's she passed to the Strand, then and long afterwards under the management of Mrs. Swanborough, whose son Arthur she married. There she played Miss Wharton in Craven's 'Post-boy' on 31 Oct. 1860; original parts in 'Christmas Boxes' by Edwards and Mayhew, 'Observation and Flirtation,' the 'Old Story,' the 'Idle ’Prentice,' and many characters in burlesque. On 4 April 1866, at the St. James's, she was Hero in 'Much Ado about Nothing.' She was also seen as Julia in the 'Rivals,' Sophia in the 'Road to Ruin,' Mrs. Ferment in the 'School of Reform,' &c. At the Strand, on 5 Feb. 1870, she was Cicely Homespun in the 'Heir at Law.' On the opening of the Court on 25 Jan. 1871 she was the first Miss Flamboys in Mr. Gilbert's 'Randall’s Thumb,' and on 29 May the first Estella in the same author's adaptation of 'Great Expectations.' A railway accident, of which she was a victim, interrupted her career, depriving her to some extent of memory. She appeared, however, at the Lyceum in 1879, in 'Book the Third, Chapter the First.' She more than once supported Mr. J. S. Clark as Mrs. Bloomly in the 'Widow Hunt,' and was on 30 Oct. 1882 Mrs. Birkett in a revival at the Criterion of 'Betsy.' In December 1872 a benefit was given her at Drury Lane, when she played Constance in the 'Love Chase.' She died on 9 April 1893, and was buried in Brompton cemetery. Miss Bufton's good looks and tall straight figure made her very acceptable in the heroes of burlesque, and in 'Jonathan Wild,' 'Paris,' 'Tell,' and such pieces, she enjoyed much popularity. In comedy she never rose above the second rank.
[Personal Recollections; Morley's Journal of a London Playgoer; Cole's Charles Kean; Pascoe's Dramatic List; Scott and Howard's Blanchard; Era Almanack, various years; Sunday Times, various years; Era, 15 April 1893.]