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Elizabeth Harrison Powell (1774-December 10, 1843) was an 18th Century actress who found her success in acting at the Federal Street Theatre, later known as the Boston Theatre. She arrived in New England in 1794, after establishing a small acting career in England. Soon after arriving in Boston, she married Snelling Powell, the brother of the theatre director who brought her to New England. Gaining popularity quickly, she soon became one of the theatre’s most popular actresses, bringing in the most income out of all of the actors and actresses and selling out the theatre the nights she performed. Many audience members would flock to see Elizabeth perform, paying extra for a ticket. After her husband died, Powell helped manage the Boston Theatre for many years.

Family and background
Elizabeth Harrison Powell was an aspiring actress when arriving in the United States. Little is known about her life before fame. In fact, she is popularly confused with a different Elizabeth Harrison Powell, another actress from England during the same time period. Elizabeth was born in England in 1774. She came from a well-off family, but decided to start an acting career, obtaining minor success. In 1794, she was called to the United States by Charles Powell, a theatre director in Boston. Shortly after arriving in the United States, she married Snelling Powell, who was also a theatre director of the theatre Elizabeth acted at.

Women in theatre
When women were first involved in the theatre, actresses received a lot of backlash. Many critics did not like the fact women were entering an occupation so dominated by men, calling these women harsh names. Some theatres would go as far as banning women from performing. However, by the 18th century, women in acting were becoming more popular, and most theatres acknowledged that women were essential to certain performances. Despite women gaining more respect in the field, there were still some who disagreed with the decision. Most women actresses during this time period had someone who disliked them, and Elizabeth Harrison Powell was no exception. A man named Royall Tyler, a jurist and playwright during the 18th century,  was known for writing poems mocking and attacking female actors. Many of his poems were aimed towards Elizabeth and other actresses during her time.

Legacy
Throughout Elizabeth Harrison Powell’s life, she made many contributions to theatre. After gaining popularity in the United States, she would go on to become a respectable actress at the Federal Street Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, and the New York Theatre Company in New York. In the Boston Theatre, there would be shows dedicated to Elizabeth. She would perform countless sold-out shows during her career. Many critics raved about her performances, praising her for her work as portraying Shakespearean heroines. Elizabeth was very deserving of the praise she received, as she was seen as an “ornament to society,” and a “star of the Boston stage.”