Fanny Fitzwilliam

Who was Fanny Fitzwilliam?

Frances "Fanny" Elizabeth Fitzwilliam was the actress daughter of Robert Copeland, manager of the Dover theatrical circuit.

As "Miss Copeland" she made her name at the Surrey Theatre with Thomas John Dibdin. After marrying the actor Edward Fitzwilliam she performed as "Mrs. Fitzwilliam", becoming a leading London actress and theatre manager. For many years she was closely associated with John Baldwin Buckstone who, after the death of her husband, she was due to marry in 1854.

On 11 September 1854, she died of cholera at Richmond Lodge, Putney, a month before her planned wedding to Buckstone. She was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, three days after her death.

Fanny had two children from her marriage to Edward - a son, musical composer Edward Francis Fitzwilliam and a daughter, actress and singer Kathleen Fitzwilliam.