Author: Stevens, George Alexander
Biography:
STEVENS, George Alexander (c. 1710-84: ODNB)
The son of a London tradesman, born in Holborn, he abandoned an apprenticeship to go on the stage. He was first and foremost a comic actor for the rest of his life. The names of his parents have not been found. He was not a great success as an actor but made a name for himself as an author of farces and songs while touring as a performer. In Lincoln about 1750 he married another actor, Elizabeth Herbert (1728-1813), daughter of the company manager; there is no record of children. He also turned his hand to poetry, fiction, and journalism. He was a member of the Drury Lane company in London from 1761 to Feb. 1764, but his breakthrough came later in 1764 when he performed a satirical monologue, the "Lecture upon Heads," at the Haymarket. It was published in 1765 and widely imitated. The collections that are included in this bibliography contain a good deal of work published before 1770 but also some newer material. He retired to Hampstead about 1780. He died on 6 Sept. 1784 and was buried at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. (ODNB 20 Oct. 2020)
Other Names:
- G. A. Stevens