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Johnson, Bartholomew (c1610 - ?1665)
Clio’s Company (registered charity no. 1101853) is grateful for generous financial support for this project from The Portal Trust
Clio’s Company (registered charity no. 1101853) is grateful for generous financial support for this project from The Portal Trust
Both father and son were court and theatre musicians, composers and violinists, members of a London musical family. They set up some of the first public concerts at their house in Whitefriars, attended by Aphra Behn.
Little is known of her early life, but she appears to have been one of the budding actors taught by Sir William Davenant. After a shaky start to her stage career, Barry became one of the great actors of her generation. She was also the lover of John Rochester, Earl of Rochester; they had a daughter, Elizabeth, who died in 1689
Painter and writer, one of a small group of female professional artists. Painted many prominent Londoners of her day, moving in literary and church circles. The portrait sometimes claimed to be by her and of Aphra Behn is now thought unlikely to be either.
Born Harbledown nr Canterbury, daughter of Bartholomew Johnson, barber, and Elizabeth Denham, wetnurse. Probably married Johan Behn in 1666. Became in turn spy, playwright, poet, novelist, translator, political writer. Click here for more information on her life and here for reputation after her death.
Merchant and sea captain, probably briefly married to Aphra Behn around 1664. She took his name, and kept it for the rest of her life. Probably of German or Dutch origin, he may have died in the Great Plague or else left both England and his wife; no more is recorded of him.
Close ally of Charles II, one of the few who were in the know about royal policy, was aware of the 1670 Treaty of Dover, a close secret, under which the king promised to convert to Catholicism. Arlington was also effectively head of the secret service (the equivalent of Mi15 and MI6) and thus Aphra Behn’s ultimate boss.
Son of a court cook, first a publisher and, from 1660, a successful actor and producer, first at the Duke’s, then the United and finally at the new independent company. Betterton played opposite Elizabeth Barry and in several of Aphra Behn’s plays – he continued as an actor until 15 days before his death at 75.
Born in Northampton, probably a child actor, playing leading roles from 1688, including the Indian Queen in “The Widow Ranter”. Successful In both comic and tragic roles, starring in plays by Congreve and Vanbrugh, but retired in 1707 when her popularity began to wane. Lived on out of the public eye, and on her death in 1748 was buried close to Aphra Behn in the East Cloister at Westminster Abbey.
Daughter of Sir Thomas and Elizabeth, Lady Lucas, maid of honour to Queen Henrietta Maria, m. William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle 1645 – became a poet, playwright, scientist and author of science fiction – defied convention by publishing under her own name. Attended meetings of the Royal Society – buried in Westminster Abbey.
When he was restored as King in May 1660, it was one of Charles II’s first actions to reopen the London theatres, closed since the start of the civil wars in 1642. Two companies were licensed, attracting large crowds to their productions featuring the first women to act on the English stage.
Son of Sir Thomas Colepeper and Lady Barbara Sidney, formerly Lady Strangford. Regarded himself as Aphra Behn’s foster brother as her mother had been his nurse; it is likely he provided her with introductions to support her in her career. Army colonel, fellow of Royal Society. Wrote a memoir of Aphra Behn after her death.
Actress, member of the Duke’s Company from 1674, friend of Aphra Behn’s, who wrote comic roles specifically for her. Currer specialised in breeches roles as Nell Gwynn did for the King’s Company. She played the part of Ranter in 1689, and may then have retired from the theatre.
Born in Oxford, son of John Davenant, innkeeper and mayor, and his wife Jane. Playwright and poet, Royalist sympathiser and plotter who narrowly escaped execution. Pardoned and then settled in London; on the Restoration he became the patent holder of one of the two accredited theatre companies, the Duke’s Company, which he ran alongside his wife.
Son of Sir Thomas Hoyle, Lord Mayor of York, who supported the execution of Charles I but then took his own life. John inherited substantial property, entered Gray’s Inn, 1660 and practised as a lawyer. Said to have been an atheist and bisexual, tried but acquitted for both murder and buggery. In what appears to have been a troubling relationship with Aphra Behn for many years.
James II became king on the death of his brother Charles II in 1685; it took only three years for him to upset enough people to have to leave the country hastily, to be succeeded by his daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange. Aphra Behn remained loyal to him, and probably accepted fees for writing in his support.
Barber surgeon and innkeeper in and around Canterbury; m Elizabeth Denham, father of Aphra Johnson, later Behn. The family probably lived at Harbledown, near Canterbury; Bartholomew was granted the freedom of Canterbury in 1648, and held various local offices, including being one of the overseers of the poor for his parish. Clearly a person of repute, if not high status, he vanishes from the record by 1665.
Wet nurse, mother of Aphra Johnson, later Behn and a daughter, Frances, and possibly a son. Elizabeth was born in Faversham, seems to have been a person of some education and had a brother who went to Oxford and became a doctor in Stamford. She lived for several years after her husband, and may have accompanied Aphra to Surinam.
Playwright, theatre manager, spy master – one of nine children of a court official, Killigrew gained his first appointment aged 13. A staunch royalist, he went into exile with Charles II, and on the restoration was rewarded with a warrant to found the new King’s Company. As spymaster, responsible for sending Aphra Behn to Surinam.
“The Matchless Orinda” – born in London, educated in Hackney, married Welsh Parliamentarian John Philips aged 16. Wrote plays, translations and poems, many of which celebrated female friendship. Philips was celebrated as a virtuous and self effacing role model for other women – she preferred to circulate her work among friends, using the name Orinda as a pseudonym. When an unauthorised edition of her work was published, she protested vehemently – in contrast to, for example, Aphra Behn.
Playwright and novelist – daughter of a vicar, married a tailor, started writing for the stage aged 30. One of those lampooned in “The Female Wits”, where she was characterised as being amiable, fat and stupid. In reality she was the author of eleven successful plays, enabling her to provide for her children.
Son of Robert Sidney, Earl of Leicester, brought up at Penshurst. A parliamentarian in a royalist family, army colonel and philosopher, member of the Long Parliament, opposed the execution of Charles I but was ultimately executed for supposedly plotting against Charles II – his writings were used as evidence against him
Bishop of Rochester, Dean of Westminster, member of the Royal Society and friend of Aphra Behn. Sprat, like many churchmen of his time, was interested in scientific subjects, and attended some of the early Royal Society meetings. It was almost certainly he who gave permission for Behn’s burial in the cloister at Westminster Abbey.
Playwright, novelist and philosopher, daughter of a sea captain who died early, leaving his family with little money. Catherine’s work became popular – her play “Fatal Friendship” was a success, as were several of her novels. She was one of the women writers lampooned in “The Female Wits”, having roused the male author’s ire by gaining an education.
Eldest son among the 20 children of a prosperous London sugar merchant, Vanbrugh was in turn a spy, political activist and passionate Whig, an army officer, an architect (of, among other projects, Blenheim Palace) and a playwright. “The Relapse” and “The Provoked Wife” both outraged some sections of society by supporting a woman’s right to leave an abusive husband
Poet, courtier, rake – friend of King Charles II, who put up with his increasingly erratic behaviour with some forbearance. Eloped with the heiress Elizabeth Malet and had four children with her, but had multiple affairs, including a long term relationship with Elizabeth Barry (qv). Died of complications of syphilis.
