User:Fenlandier/sandbox

John Brunton (1741 – 1822) was a British actor who became the manager of a circuit of theatres in and around Norfolk. He assiduously cultivated genius wherever he could find it and the theatre was known as a nursery for theatrical talents, which also produced actors amongst his children and grandchildren.

Birth and Background
Born in Norwich, the son of a soap maker. Educated at the grammar school under Rev Wilton. Served an apprenticeship to a grocer before moving to work with a relative in Canterbury, where he met and married a daughter of Mr. Friend, a tailor and draper. Later he went London as a grocer and tea-dealer.

Family
He married Elizabeth on 7 August, 1766 their fourteen children included Ann Brunton Merry actress and theatre manager (and mother of William Warren (actor)) and Elizabeth Columbine (1772-1799) also an actress. John Brunton jun (1775-1848), actor and theatre manager at Brighton, Norwich, Birmingham and King's Lynn. Brunton jnr married Anna Ross and two of their five children were the Covent Garden Theatre actresses Elizabeth Yates and Fanny Maria Brunton (1803-1883). Louisa, Countess of Craven, Thomas (b1789) and Kitty (b1789) also appeared on stage. Lieut-Col Richard Brunton (1787-1846) was a distinguished veteran of Waterloo and the Crimea. Through these children the Bruntons had connections to the theatrical families Brown, Noverre, Robertson and Ross.

Stage Career
A friendship with J. Younger of Covent Garden theatre prompted him to appear on the stage in Cyrus on 11 April 1774 and on 3 May as Hamlet. He then took up acting in Norwich, on 2 September 1775 he was Hamlet with the Norwich company at Colchester theatre. On 6 May 1776 he was Shylock in The Merchant of Venice in Norwich. On 1 December he was Hamlet at Yarmouth theatre.

Bristol and Bath where in Jane Shore he appeared with Sarah Siddons and was said {quote| to have a very fine and very powerful voice, he speaks the sense of his author distinctly; his manner is sufficiently marking; and, upon the whole, he promises to be an acquisition to our theatre.}

By 1779 he was living on the Lowe Close, Norwich and became the lessee of the Norwich theatre circuit by 1788.

Another Covent Garden Theatre appearance as Evander in The Grecian Daughter on 28 October 1785 with his daughter Ann in the title role. She was on a three year contract.

In May 1788 he purchased the remaining five-year lease of the Norwich theatre, from next November.

On 5 May 1790 another daughter Miss E Brunton made her debut on Covent Garden Theatre stage in The Man of Quality, she is described as very young and beautiful.

In January 1791 Brunton established a fund for the relief of such as through age or infirmity might be compelled to retire from the stage. This was the first theatrical fund outside of the metropolis. Later that month he donated the proceeds of his benefit to the local Sunday schools.

Brunton's takings at a performance in King's Lynn this month were said to be the greatest any manager had achieved at the venue, other plays included Better Late than Never and Rosina. In March at Norwich was played The Road to Ruin, The Old Maid, Next Door Neighbours, The Irish Widow, The Romp, Which is the Man? and Who's the Dupe. On 14 April he put on at Norwich The Woodman by Rev Henry Bate Dudley and The Deserter of Naples 17 King Richard the III and Modern Antiques The Easter Monday Benefit performance of King Richard the III featured his daughter in law Anna Ross and her Benefit on 2 May featured her sister Fanny Robertson as Euphrasia in The Grecian Daughter. In January 1792 he played Eustace de St Pierre in Colman junior's 'Surrender of Calais''. He gave the receipts of his benefit to local Sunday schools. On 29 March 1792 in The Battle of Hexham the part of Queen Margaret was attempted by local playwright Hannah Brand at Norwich.

Brunton was a philanthropist and ran a fund to support actors. ' The Norwich Theatrical Fund, for the relief of distressed performers has been established upwards of three years; it arises from weekly contributions and a benefit, which Mr. Brunton annually gives, free of all expense. The fund is now under the sanction of an Act of Parliament.—This is the only theatre (the London ones excepted) that enjoys such an institution ; and we have little doubt but the liberality of a Norwich audience will aid a scheme calculated to afford comfort to the aged and unfortunate.'

The lease on the Norwich theatre was due to expire on 1 June 1800. He took his final leave of Norwich theatre to a crowded house as Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. He is described as formerly the manager of Norwich theatre in the report of his daughter Louisa, Countess of Craven's wedding to Earl Craven. Aged 82, Brunton died on 19 December 1822, his widow Elizabeth died in 1826.