The New International Encyclopædia/Davidge, William Pleater

DAV'IDGE, William Pleater (1814-88). An English comedian, who came to the United States in 1850 and became identified with the American stage. He was born April 17, 1814, in London, and appeared as a youthful amateur at Drury Lane in The Miller's Maid. Afterwards he acted in various English cities.especially in Manchester. His first appearance in America was in August, 1850, as Sir Peter Teazle at the old Broadway Theatre, New York; later he sup- ported many well-known actors in the metropolis and elsewhere, among them Edwin Forrest and Fanny Davenport. Some of his notable parts were Caliban; Eccles, in Caste; Dick Deadeye, which he created, in Pinafore; Old Hardy, in The Belle's Stratagem; and Hardcastle, in She Stoops to Conquer. His last engagement was with the Madison Square Company, beginning in 1885. He died at Cheyenne, Wyo., August 7, 1888. He was the author of a volume of autobiographical reminiscences, called Footlight Flashes (New York, 18G6); The Drama Defended (New York, 1859); and other works. His son, William Davidge (1847-1899), also an actor, was born at Manchester, England, and brought to the United States when a child of three years. During his career he played with William H. Crane (1870-71), Kate Claxton (1877-78), and later for several seasons with Poland Reed. He died in Chicago.