Born 4 Boston Terrace, Holloway, as David Wighton. His stage name was taken from the title of a painting ‘David devant Goliath’ (David before Goliath), and was first used, aged 17. Married his, no doubt beautiful, assistant in about 1888. Had a long and successful partnership with Maskelyne who had been one of his early inspirations. 1905 – 1915 they performed at St George’s Hall, next door to the Queen’s Hall. One of the first to recognise the potential of the Lumières’ 1896 demonstration in London of moving pictures. First president of the Magic Circle in 1905. Appeared in the first royal command variety performance in 1912. Died at the Royal Hospital for Incurables, Putney, from a progressive palsy which had caused him to retire from public performing in 1919.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
David Devant
Commemorated ati
David Devant
David Devant, 1868 - 1941, magician, lived here in flat no. 1. English Heritage
Other Subjects
Adelaide Stoll
Businesswoman. Mother of impresario Oswald Stoll. After the death of her first husband, she travelled from Australia to Britain with her son. She married again to John Stoll and eventually took ove...
Richard D'Oyly Carte
Theatre impresario. Born Greek Street. Suggested that Sullivan should work on Gilbert's "Trial by Jury" and staged the first performance in 1875. In 1879 D'Oyly Carte's Opera Company was formed and...
Sir J. M. Barrie
Playwright and novelist. Born Kirriemuir, Scotland. Moved to London, Bloomsbury, in 1885 for his writing career. Less than 5 foot tall he was not very successful with women and developed a habit of...
Dame Joan Plowright, CBE
Actor. Born Lincolnshire. Married Laurence Olivier in 1961 and survived as his widow in 1989. Died Northwood, London.
John Fletcher
Dramatist. Born in Rye, Sussex. His solo works are now virtually forgotten, and he is best remembered for his collaborations, particularly on Shakespeare's 'Henry VIII' and 'The Two Noble Kinsmen'.
Previously viewed
Samuel Brown
Role on the lost expedition: Petty officer on SS Erebus. See John Franklin.
Royal Military Asylum / Duke of York's Royal Military School
From RBKC document: "...the Royal Military Asylum for the Children of Soldiers of the Regular Army, which opened in 1803. Most of the thousand or so children were orphans; others had fathers servin...
David Bomberg
NW2, Fordwych Road, 10
David Bomberg, 1890 - 1957, painter, lived and worked here 1928 - 1934. English Heritage
Sir Albert Richardson
Architect. Born London. Our picture shows him as 'professor' in 1956. Apart from post-war restorations his main work in London is Bracken House, the first post-war listed building.
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