Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cargill, Ann

1367496Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 09 — Cargill, Ann1887John Joseph Knight

CARGILL, ANN (1748?–1764), actress and vocalist, made as Miss Brown her first appearance in London at Corent Garden in 1770, playing Sally in George Colmon's comedy 'Man and Wife.' During her stay at Covent Garden, which lasted until 1780, she was the original Clara in the 'Duenna' of Sheridan (21 Nov. 1776), and took some primary rôles in comic opera and burletta, and many secondary rôles in comedy. On 2 Sept. 1780 she played at the Haymarket, as Mrs. Cargill, late Miss Brown, the Goddess of Health in the 'Genius of Nonsense' of her manager, George Colman. Conspicuous success attended her performance at the same theatre, 8 Aug. 1781, of Macheath, in a representation of the 'Beggar's Opera,' in which the male characters were sustained by women, and the female characters by men. Mrs. Cargill also performed Patie in Ramsay's 'Gentle Shepherd' (29 Oct. 1781), Marinetta in Tickell's 'Carnival of Venice' (13 Dec. 1781), and Damon in 1783 in the 'Chaplet,' Mrs. Cargill, who was short and thick in figure, acted with singular spirit as Captain Macheath. It is chronicled that her tremors upon hearing the bell sound for execution moved the audience to tears. In 1782 she went to India, where she not only played her favourite operatic characters, but attempted tragedy with some success. A single benefit is said to have brought her the then 'astonishing sum of 12,000 rupees.' On her return home in 1781 the Nancy packet in which she had taken her passage was lost. Her body was found 'on the rocks of Scilly floating in her shift,' with an infant in her arms. Numerous portraits of Mrs. Cargill were painted and engraved. Two engravings were issued in 1776 after a picture by W. Peters. Engraved portraits were afterwards published of her in her chief characters, including Clara (1778), Miranda (1777), and Polly (1777 and 1782).

[Genest's Account of the Engliah Stage; Thespian Dictionary; Doran's Their Majesties' Servants; Oxberry's Dramatic Chronology; Young's Memoirs of Mrs. Crouch; information kindly supplied by Mr. W. Barclay Squire.]

J. K.