HENRIETTA

CONSTANCE

See also:

• HENRIETTA CONSTANCE SMITHSON (1800-1854)
• SMITHSON, JAMES (1765-1829)

SMITHSON (1800-1854)  , Irish actress, was the daughter of a theatrical manager . She made her first stage appearance in 1815 at the Crow Street theatre, Dublin, as Albina Mandeville in Reynolds's Will . Three years later she made her first London appearance at Drury Lane as Letitia Hardy . She had no particular success in England; but in Paris, in 1828 and 18,32, whither she first went with Macready, she aroused immense enthusiasm as Desdemona, Virginia, Juliet and Jane Shore . She had a host of admirers, among them Lector Berlioz (q.v.), whom she married in 1833 . They separated in 1840., At the time of her marriage her popularity was already over and she was deeply in debt . A benefit was given her, but she had the mortification of seeing a rival applauded when she herself was coldly received . She retired from the stage, and died on the 3rd of March 1854 .