Person    | Male  Born 11/6/1572  Died 6/8/1637

Ben Jonson

Categories: Theatre

Countries: Scotland

Playwright and poet. Born in Westminster, possibly, and a committed Londoner, though also of proud Scottish descent. Imprisoned three times, once for his first play which was deemed to be "lewd, seditious and sklandrous". His first hit was at The Curtain Theatre with Shakespeare in the cast. Best known for his satirical plays, such as 'Volpone' and 'The Alchemist'. In 1618 he walked from London to Scotland in 10 weeks, for a bet, it is thought.

In a duel on 22 September 1598 at Pimlico Tavern in Hoxton Jonson killed the actor, Gabriel Spencer.  The cause of the duel is unknown but Spencer had, two years previous in Shoreditch, killed someone else, James Feake, in what sounds like an argument that got out of hand. We're not suggesting that the two murders were related, just that the times were tough. Spencer somehow escaped any serious punishment, as did Jonson by pleading "benefit of clergy" which sounds like a get-out-of-jail-free card. He did get a brand on his left thumb.

Long rumoured to have been buried standing up, which would mean the coffin was interred vertically. Luckily for us the grave had to be disturbed in the C19th to allow another burial and there are reports that indeed Jonson was vertical, but the coffin-bearers got it wrong and buried him upside down. Great story, hope it's true.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Ben Jonson

Commemorated ati

Curtain Theatre - Hewett Street

Near this site stood The Curtain Theatre, 1577 - c.1627, second English publi...

Read More

Pimlico Hostelry and Pleasure Gardens

The Pimlico Tavern was in Hogsden (now Hoxton), close to The Curtain, The The...

Read More

Southwark Cathedral - famous names

Southwark Cathedral For over 1,000 years Christians have worshipped here. AD ...

Read More

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Ben Jonson

Creations i

Evelina Children's Hospital at Guy's

Jonson seems to have had a special ability with elegies for children, not lea...

Read More

Other Subjects

Christopher Marlowe

Christopher Marlowe

Playwright and poet, for definite. Spy? Atheist? Homosexual? Shakespeare? Baptized on 26th February at St George's Church, Canterbury. Educated at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. His plays inclu...

Person, Espionage, Poetry, Theatre

3 memorials
Sir Augustus Harris

Sir Augustus Harris

Actor and theatre manager. Born Paris, into an international theatre family. ‘Father of Modern Pantomime', he introduced stars of popular music hall into his Christmas pantomimes. From aged 27 for...

Person, Theatre, France

1 memorial
Gaiety Theatre

Gaiety Theatre

 Before the Aldwych development in 1906 the street pattern was very different.  The site between the current Lyceum Theatre and the current corner, Silken Hotel, was occupied by the Lyceum Theatre,...

Place, Theatre

2 memorials
Max Wall

Max Wall

Comedian and actor. Born Maxwell George Lorimer at 37 Glenshaw Mansions, Brixton. His parents were both music-hall entertainers. After his father's death, his mother married Harry Wallace, from who...

Person, Theatre, TV & Radio

1 memorial
Ernie Lotinga

Ernie Lotinga

Comedian and film actor.  Born Sunderland.  Best known for a series of films in which he played a character, Josser, in the 1930s.  T. S. Eliot was a big fan.  Died London. British Pathe have some...

Person, Cinema, Humour, Theatre

1 memorial

Previously viewed

G. Smith
War dead, WW2
1 memorial
William Hazlitt

William Hazlitt

Essayist. Initially wanted to be a philosopher, then tried painting and then journalism, where he was a success: as a drama reviewer, art critic, political commentator and creating sports writing ...

Person, Literature

3 memorials
First police training school

First police training school

The first organised training school was opened in 1907 at Peel House in Regency Street, Pimlico. Officer recruits undertook a four-week training course before being posted to their beat. Moved to H...

Place, Armed Forces, Education

1 memorial
Fanny Burney

Fanny Burney

W1, Bolton Street, 11

Erected in 1885 this is the oldest surviving "blue" plaque to a woman.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator