ROBERT

See also:

• WILLIAM
• WILLIAM (1143-1214)
• WILLIAM (1227-1256)
• WILLIAM (1J33-1584)
• WILLIAM (A.S. Wilhelm, O. Norse Vilhidlmr; O. H. Ger. Willahelm, Willahalm, M. H. Ger. Willehelm, Willehalm, Mod.Ger. Wilhelm; Du. Willem; O. Fr. Villalme, Mod. Fr. Guillaume; from " will," Goth. vilja, and " helm," Goth. hilms, Old Norse hidlmr, meaning
• WILLIAM (c. 1130-C. 1190)
• WILLIAM, 13TH

WILLIAM

See also:

• ROBERT WILLIAM ELLISTON (1774--1831)

ELLISTON (1774--1831)  , English actor, was born in London on the 7th of April 1774, the son of a watch-maker . He was educated at St Paul's school, but ran away from home and made his first appearance on the stage as Tressel in Richard III. at Bath in 1791 . Here he was later seen as Romeo, and in other leading parts, both comic and tragic, and he repeated his successes in London from 1796 . He acted at Drury Lane from 1804 to 1809, and again from 1812; and from 1819 he was the lessee of the house, presenting Kean, Mme Vestris and Macready . Ill-health and misfortune culminated in his bankruptcy in 1826, when he made his last appearance at Drury Lane as Falstaff . But as lessee of the Surrey theatre he acted almost up to his death, which was hastened by intemperance . Leigh Hunt compared him favourably with Garrick; Byron thought him inimitable in high comedy; Macready praised his versatility . Elliston was the author of The Venetian Outlaw (r8o5), and, with Francis Godolphin Waldron, of No Prelude (1803), in both of which plays he appeared .