Person    | Male  Born 13/2/1804  Died 6/11/1878

Samuel Phelps

Actor/manager, born in Devonport. In his early working life he worked on the York theatre circuit and acted in numerous tragic roles. In 1837 played Shylock at the Haymarket. He then had a short role in the Haymarket and Drury Lane successively. In 1844 he became co-lessee of Sadler's Wells Theatre with Thomas L. Greenwood and Mary Amelia Warner (1804-1854). Greenwood supplied the business capacity, Phelps was the theatrical manager, and Warner the leading lady.

In this position Phelps remained for twenty years, during which time he raised the Sadler's Wells house to an important position. Thirty-four of Shakespeare's plays were presented there under his direction, with great educational effect, both on public and players. In 1861 Greenwood retired from the partnership, and Phelps, unable to cope with the business of management, retired from it the following year. He continued to act but also published and annotated an edition of Shakespeare's works in 2 vols. Buried in Highgate Cemetery.

Credit for this entry to: Beverley Duguid

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:
Samuel Phelps

Commemorated ati

Samuel Phelps

{At the top, with the crossed laurel leaves:} L.C.C. {In the main area:} S...

Read More

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Samuel Phelps

Creations i

Shakespeare's tree

The plaque is now lost.

Read More

Other Subjects

St Paul's School

St Paul's School

Founded in 1509 by Dean Colet, dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, on the site in what is now New Change. The building was destroyed in the Fire of London, and was twice rebuilt. When the school outgrew i...

Group, Education

3 memorials
London Oratory

London Oratory

Popularly known as the Brompton Oratory. Founded the year after Cardinal Newman established the Birmingham Oratory.

Group, Education, Religion

1 memorial
George Green

George Green

Shipbuilder and philanthropist. Founder of a shipyard in Blackwall, which was subsequently taken over by his three sons, Frederick, Henry and Richard. George endowed several schools in Poplar. He a...

Person, Education, Engineering, Philanthropy

2 memorials
Sunday Schools (centenary)

Sunday Schools (centenary)

Workhouses.org informs that schools for children on Sundays probably happened earlier but the movement started in 1780 when Robert Raikes opened a school in Gloucester.

Concept, Children, Education

1 memorial
Peter Hill

Peter Hill

Elizabethan seafarer. With Robert Bell he co-founded the St Mary Rotherhithe Free School, to educate the sons of local seafarers.

Person, Education, Philanthropy, Transport

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Newgate Street Clock

Newgate Street Clock

EC1, Newgate Street

The size of this "wandering hour" clock, a 2 metre diameter, makes it unique. The arms of the Clockmakers company are at the centre of th...

2 subjects commemorated, 4 creators
Football - first FA match

Football - first FA match

SW11, Battersea Park

This game took place, on a Saturday, just 2 months after the FA had been formed.

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
C. Stovell

C. Stovell

Name on one of the main panels of the East Ham WW1 memorial.

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Highbury View Tenants Association

Highbury View Tenants Association

There are lots of housing associations in Highbury, but we can't find any specific information about a group with this name. The building on which the plaque is erected is occupied by a sheltered h...

Group, Community / Clubs

1 memorial
Melanie Klein

Melanie Klein

Psychoanalyst and pioneer of child analysis.  Born with the surname Reizes in Vienna.  Her 1903 marriage to Arthur Klein led to the end of her education, 3 children, frequent home moves and divorce...

Person, Medicine, Austria

1 memorial