Moll Davis: Difference between revisions
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Moll Davis was born in Westminster in 1648 as the daughter of Thomas Howard, the Earl of Berkshire (Hartley 131). | Moll Davis was born in Westminster in 1648 as the daughter of Thomas Howard, the Earl of Berkshire (Hartley 131). | ||
In May 1668 Davis gave up her profession and gave birth to her daughter Lady Mary Tudor, the biological child of Charles II (Melville 81). She received 1000 pounds annually from the king as a support measure (82). Charles II also gifted her an expensive ring (Hartley 131) as well as a house to live in on the north side of Pall Mall and later in 79 Pall Mall, addresses close to the palace and St. James's Park (Jordan and Walsh ch. 13). In 1686 Moll Davis married James Paisible, a famous French musician and composer (Hartley 131). | In May 1668 Davis gave up her profession and gave birth to her daughter Lady Mary Tudor, the biological child of [[Charles II]] (Melville 81). She received 1000 pounds annually from the king as a support measure (82). Charles II also gifted her an expensive ring (Hartley 131) as well as a house to live in on the north side of Pall Mall and later in 79 Pall Mall, addresses close to the palace and St. James's Park (Jordan and Walsh ch. 13). In 1686 Moll Davis married James Paisible, a famous French musician and composer (Hartley 131). | ||
She died in London in 1708 and was buried in St. Anne´s Church in Soho. | She died in London in 1708 and was buried in St. Anne´s Church in Soho. | ||
Revision as of 14:37, 26 December 2022
1648-1708. Also known as Mary Davis or Mary Davies. Famous actress, singer, dancer and comedian during the Restoration. One of the many royal mistresses of Charles II.
Career:
Moll Davis can be considered "one of a bevy of obscure young women who took advantage of the new opportunities open to women as actresses on the Restoration stage (before the Civil War, all female parts had been played by boys)" (Hartley 131). She started her career as a young girl. The exact age is unknown and does not emerge from the literature. Davis was employed as a principal actress for the Duke´s Company (131). In February 1662, at the age of 14, she did her first performance in William Davenant´s The Law against Lovers as the character Viola. In 1667 she played the role of Celania in Davenant´s The Rivals and performed the song "My Lodging It Is on the Cold Ground" (131). Because of her talent and beauty she was painted on numerous portraits, including by the famous English artist Sir Peter Lely. Moll had a tense relationship with Nell Gwyn, another well-known actress and lover of the king at the time. Because of jealousy, Nell Gwynn initiated some intrigues that eventually led to the king leaving Moll Davis (Melville 82).
Family and Private Life:
Moll Davis was born in Westminster in 1648 as the daughter of Thomas Howard, the Earl of Berkshire (Hartley 131). In May 1668 Davis gave up her profession and gave birth to her daughter Lady Mary Tudor, the biological child of Charles II (Melville 81). She received 1000 pounds annually from the king as a support measure (82). Charles II also gifted her an expensive ring (Hartley 131) as well as a house to live in on the north side of Pall Mall and later in 79 Pall Mall, addresses close to the palace and St. James's Park (Jordan and Walsh ch. 13). In 1686 Moll Davis married James Paisible, a famous French musician and composer (Hartley 131). She died in London in 1708 and was buried in St. Anne´s Church in Soho.
Bibliography
Hartley, Cathy. A Historical Dictionary of British Women. Taylor & Francis, 2013.
Melville, Lewis. Nell Gwyn: The Story of Her Life. Hutchinson, 1923.
Walsh, Michael, and Jordan, Don. The King's Bed: Sex, Power and the Court of Charles II. Little, Brown Book Group, 2015.
Wilson, John Harold. All the King´s Ladies: Actresses of the Restoration. University of Chicago Press, 1958.