Born: 1722 (circa), Ireland
Died: 11 November 1790
Country most active: United Kingdom, Ireland
Also known as: Elizabeth Flanagan
This biography is republished from The Dictionary of Irish Biography and was written by Patrick M. Geoghegan. Shared by permission in line with Creative Commons ‘Attribution’ (CC BY) licencing.
Fitzhenry, Elizabeth (c.1722–1790), leading actress, was born Elizabeth Flanagan in Abbey St., Dublin, daughter of the proprietor of the Old Ferry Boat tavern. She was sometimes mistakenly referred to as Mary Flannigan; her real name appears on her first marriage certificate, when she married (15 January 1742) Capt. John Gregory, a trader. After the deaths of her husband and father she turned to the stage and moved to London.
She made her acting debut at the Covent Garden Theatre, London, on 10 January 1754 in the role of Hermione in ‘The distressed mother’ by Ambrose Phillips. Her performance was a success, and she soon followed this with the role of Alicia in ‘Jane Shore’. Despite an excellent acting style, she was not retained by Covent Garden for a successive season. Some critics blamed her Irish accent for her failure, but other commentators insisted that her elocution was flawless. Disappointed, she returned to Ireland and was engaged by the Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, for £300, making her debut on 1 November 1754 as Hermione, a role that was becoming uniquely hers. Over the next three seasons she played many roles, and established herself as a first-rate leading actress.
She returned, with some success, to Covent Garden on 5 February 1757, playing Hermione alongside Peg Woffington, and other roles followed. Nevertheless, she returned to Dublin that summer, and married a lawyer, Edward Fitzhenry. Despite the embarrassment of her in-laws she continued on the stage, and throughout the next few seasons excelled in numerous leading roles.
Although a popular actress, her career stalled during the 1761–2 season. Nevertheless, she still continued to make exorbitant financial demands that were reluctantly granted. In 1765 she returned to London, but her time there was not a happy one, and she fell victim to the prevalent stage jealousies, returning to Dublin the next season. At her benefit in Dublin in 1767 she received £201, a record at the time.
Her husband died on 7 October 1772, leaving a modest legacy, and after the 1773–4 season she retired from acting. The lure of the stage was too great, however, and she returned at least once, on 12 March 1783 at Smock Alley, and also perhaps in ‘The stratagem’ on 9 June 1788. She died on 11 November 1790 at Ballinahallen, near Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. She had one son and one daughter from her second marriage.
Although possessed of enough talent to become a success in London, she chose to spend most of her career in Dublin, where she was happiest. She had an innate understanding of her roles, and could command scenes and audiences at will. After her death the Dublin Mirror published a fitting epitaph, ‘Fitzhenry – indeed is a name/ That dimly is found in the temple of fame/ Like a meteor she blazes fugitive fires/ Appears on the scene, and, appearing, expires’ (Biographical dictionary of actors…).