1st June 1761 went to to Drury Lane to See King Lear.. Lear Garick Cordelia Mrs Sibber The King, Princess of Wales and the Rest of the Royal Family 2/3


Thomas has seen Garrick's Lear before and Mrs Cibber in another production but this must have been a very special event.

The King was the new George III. He was not yet married and his mother, Princess Augusta, the widow of his father, Frederick Prince of Wales, is the Princess of Wales mentioned.


The earliest portrait I can find of George III is by the Scottish artist, Allan Ramsay.


Here is his mother

Several other Princes and Princesses might be included in "the Rest of the Royal Family" but, of course, I don't know who was there.

Thomas goes to King Lear

31 May 1742
Went to see King Lear Garrick Lear 2/6

This is the first time Thomas has mentioned an actor, but, if you know one name from 18th century theatre, then this is it!

David Garrick came to London to be a wine merchant. He was not very good at that and his business lost money. However, he started to act within a year of seeing his first play. He quickly became a professional and on 11 May 1742 he appeared at Drury Lane, in Otway's The Orphan (which Thomas has already seen!). That same month, Garrick played King Lear opposite Margaret "Peg" Woffington as Cordelia.