Alexander Pope

Who was Alexander Pope?

Alexander Pope was an Irish actor and painter born in Cork, Ireland.

He was educated to follow his father's profession of miniature painting. He continued to paint miniatures and exhibit them at the Royal Academy as late as 1821; but at an early date he took the stage, first appearing in London as Oroonoko in 1785 at Covent Garden. He remained at this theatre almost continuously for nearly twenty years, then at the Haymarket until his retirement, playing leading parts, chiefly tragic. He was well known as Othello and Henry VIII.

He was married three times. His first wife, Elizabeth, a favourite English actress of great versatility, was billed before her marriage as Miss Younge. His second wife, Maria Ann Campion, also a popular actress, was a member of an Irish family. His third wife, born Clara Maria Leigh, was the widow of the artist Francis Wheatley, and herself a skilful painter of figures and of flowers, under the name of Mrs Pope.