David Cameron is apparently descended from royalty also but not the same royal as his wife Samantha, Holman & Vinton- Cornwall, Wojciechowskyj & Hussak- Bukowiec & Zahutyn, Bentley & Richards- Leicester, Taylor-Kent/Sussex Punnett-Sussex, Bear/e- Monkleigh Gazey-Warwicks, George W. Bush is said to be 13th cousin twice removed to the Queen. Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Family. WebNell gave birth to her first son, Charles Beauclerk, on 8 May 1670. The obscurity surrounding Gwyn's date of birth parallels numerous other obscurities that run through the course of her life. During Gwyn's first years with Charles, there was little competition in the way of other mistresses: Barbara Palmer was on her way out, while others, such as Moll Davis, kept quietly away from the spotlight of public appearances or Whitehall. [55] At the same time, James applied pressure on Gwyn and her son Charles to convert to Roman Catholicism, something she resisted. 18283, dismisses reported appearances in the late 1670s and early 1680s as non-credible, noting "the publicity that would have attended such a comeback is absent". Nell gave birth to her first son, Charles Beauclerk, on 8 May 1670. During the decade of protectorate rule by the Cromwells, pastimes regarded as frivolous, including theatre, had been banned. Eleanor "Nell" Gwyn (or Gwynn or Gwynne) (2 February 1650 14 November 1687) was a long-time mistress of King Charles II of England. The earlier date of birth was asserted without documentation, but various scholars have supported both the earlier and later dates. WebNell Gwynn is a play by the British playwright Jessica Swale, begun in 2013 [1] and premiering at Shakespeare's Globe from 19 September to 17 October 2015. Search here. Yeah, we are all equal, but those with links to the peerage can find out more about their ancestors . Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans, KG (8 May 1670 10 May 1726) was an illegitimate son of King Charles II of England by his mistress Nell Gwyn. Although not yet a hereditary peer, the heir to the St Albans dukedom was allowed to sit on the steps of the throne, from where he seized his moment of glory. If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. When the king rebuked her for calling him that, she replied, "Your Majesty has given me no other name to call him by." Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Want to search our collection? Her first recorded appearance on-stage was in March 1665, in John Dryden's heroic drama The Indian Emperour, playing Cydaria, daughter of Moctezuma and love interest to Cortez, played by her real-life lover Charles Hart. ", The diarist Samuel Pepys wrote in January 1667, "to the King's house, and there saw "The Numerous Lieutenant," a silly play, I think; only the Spirit in it that grows very tall, and then sinks again to nothing, having two heads breeding upon one, and then Knipp's singing, did please us. He also had a wife, Portuguese Queen consort Catherine of Braganza, whose pregnancies all ended in miscarriages, and she had little or no say over Charles's choice to have mistresses. Three cities make the claim to be Gwyn's birthplace: Hereford, London (specifically Covent Garden) and Oxford. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to get the full Trove experience. [25], There is some debate over the year The Mad Couple debuted, with earlier authorities believing it to be 1667. James II, following his brother's deathbed wish, "Let not poor Nelly starve," paid most of her debts and gave her a pension. [30], After seeing the play for the third time, Pepys writes, "It is impossible to have Florimels part, which is the most comical that ever was made for woman, ever done better than it is by Nelly. Gwyn had two sons by King Charles: Charles Beauclerk (16701726) and James Beauclerk (16711680). Nell (Gwynn) Solomon Nell R. Solomon formerly Gwynn Born 1920s. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind. [52] Her family's history has been published in the authoritative book: The House of Nell Gwyn (1974). Apparently his final words were 'let not poor Nelly starve.'. Dryden later wrote plays specifically to exploit her talents as a comic actress. This play, a tragicomedy written by the theatre's house dramatist, John Dryden, was performed in March 1667. She supposedly caught his eye during an April performance of All Mistaken, or The Mad Couple, especially in one scene in which, to escape a hugely fat suitor able to move only by rolling, she rolls across the stage herself, her feet toward the audience and her petticoats flying about. Page 879 - NELL GWYNN'S DESCENDANTS. Nell Gwyn, original name Eleanor Gwyn, (born Feb. 2, 1650, London, Eng.died Nov. 14, 1687, London), English actress and mistress of Charles II, whose frank recklessness, generosity, invariable good temper, ready wit, infectious high spirits, and amazing indiscretions appealed irresistibly to a generation that welcomed in her the living antithesis of Puritanism. For access to nell gwynn's full information you must be on the Trusted List. Her second son, James, Lord Beauclerk (b. The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. Gwyn nicknamed Louise "Squintabella" for her looks and the "Weeping Willow" for her tendencies to sob. ", Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. [20] The use of 'Mrs' would imply that Gwyn was more likely born in 1642 than 1650 as it indicates an actress over the age of 21 (not her marital status) for which certain roles would be more suitable. WebNell Gwynn, the mistress of Charles II, was a famous denizen of London. Her mother Ellen (or a variant, being referred to in her lifetime as "Old Madam", "Madam Gwyn" and "Old Ma Gwyn") was born, according to a monumental inscription, in the parish of St Martin in the Fields, which stretched from Soho and Covent Garden to beyond Mayfair, and is thought to have lived most of her life there in the West End. Search over 220,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day. Louise and Nell would prove rivals for many years. In May 1665, she appeared opposite Hart in James Howard's comedy All Mistaken, or the Mad Couple. In the 18th century, the house became a popular spa, before giving way to development. For example, The Bodleian Manuscript of The Siege of Urbin has the part of Pedro (Melina- a maid servant in breeches) played by a 'Mrs. Its just as well that Nell Gwynn was a real person because shed be entirely unbelievable as an invented character. Charles supposedly cried out "God save the Earl of Burford!" She was probably his favourite mistress. An inscribed stone of 1680, saved and reinserted in the front wall of the present building, shows a carved mask which is probably a reference to her stage career. The notoriously temperamental Barbara Palmer (nee Villiers) Lady Castlemaine, had been Charles' mistress for many years, but their relationship was beginning to sour by the time he met Nell Gwynn. Additionally, 'Nelle' was intended to play the small role of Paulina, a courtesan, in Killigrew's Thomaso, or The Wanderer in November 1664, but the play seems to have been cancelled. Their relationship lasted perhaps two years and was reported with obscenity-laced acidity in several later satires; "For either with expense of purse or p---k, / At length the weary fool grew Nelly-sick". she is said to have exclaimed, in imitation of the King's often used expression, "but this is the poorest company I ever was in.". It would be her main residence for the rest of her life. : 1866 - 1939), Sat 27 Oct 1900, 8 May 1670, d. 11 May 1726, James Beauclerk, Lord Beauclerk b. Learn more about near-Earth objects and what the impact they could have, Search our online database and exploreour objects, paintings, archives and library collectionsfrom home, Come behind the scenes at our state-of-the-art conservation studio, Visit the world's largest maritime library and archive collection at the National Maritime Museum, The Van de Veldes: Greenwich, Art and the Sea, Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition, A Sea of Drawings: the art of the Van de Veldes, The Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre. He later invited her to supper, along with his brother James, Duke of York. He is the youngest and the READ MORE - PRO MEMBERS ONLY Whether this activity rose to the level of pimping may be a matter of semantics.[17]. Updates? We speak to playwright Jessica Swale about the actress Nell Gwynn, who is the subject of her Olivier nominated play. [1] On the other hand, an account published in The New Monthly Magazine and Humorist in 1838 states that she was born about 1642. (Beauclerk, p. Sir John Wynn (d.1626, aet 73) is famous as the author of 'The History of the Gwydir Family' and one of the most prominent Welshmen of his day. In terms of what we know, records tell that Nell sold 'strong waters' to the punters in her mother's brothel, that she may have been a herring gutter or a street seller and that she sold oranges at the theatre in Drury Lane. You need to login before you can save preferences. Charles is known to have denied paternity of her second son who was born in 1663, but Barbara, renowned for her furious temper, stamped her foot shouting "God damn me, but you shall own it!" "[36] Gwyn was acting once more in late August, and her brief affair with Buckhurst had ended. Another legend is that Beauclerk's mother held him out of a window (or above a river) and threatened to drop him unless he was given a peerage. Mostly unnoticed by passers-by, this is believed to be the only statue of a royal mistress in the capital city.[61]. Mary Meggs, a former prostitute nicknamed "Orange Moll" and a friend of Madam Gwyn's, had been granted the licence to "vend, utter and sell oranges, lemons, fruit, sweetmeats and all manner of fruiterers and confectioners wares" within the theatre. brated actress and favourite of Charles II. His descendant "Canons of Christ Church: Fourth prebend | British History Online", "St Mary-le-Strand and the Maypole | British History Online", "Diary entries from April1665 (The Diary of Samuel Pepys)", "Carry on, your majesty: Charles II and his court ladies", "Book review: Susan Holloway Scott's *The King's Favorite: A Novel of Nell Gwyn and King Charles II*", "Fringe Spotlight: Nell Gwynne: A Dramatick Essaye on Acting and Prostitution", Jacob Henry Burn Collection of Nell Gwyn, 1675-1872, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nell_Gwyn&oldid=1148143624, History of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 1986, "Nell Gwyn and her oranges" are referred to in "Move Over Busker", a song from Paul McCartney's, This page was last edited on 4 April 2023, at 10:11. Connect to the World Family Tree to find out, Feb 2 1650 - Pipewall Lane, Hereford, England, Nov 14 1687 - Pall Mall, Westminster, London, England, Feb 2 1650 - Westminster, London, England, Nov 14 1687 - Westminster, Middlesex, England, Charles Ii Stuart, King Of England, Scotland, And Ireland, Feb 2 1650 - Convent Gardens, Kensington, Middlesex, England, Nov 14 1687 - Pall Mall, Westminster, Middlesex, England, Charles Ii Francis (The Merry Monarch) STUART, KING OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND IRELAND, ATE SON OF KING OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND, EARL OF BURFORD,ST DUKE OF ST ALBANS, James FITZROY BEAUCLERCK, ILLEGITIMATE SON OF KING CHARLES II, Feb 2 1648 - Westminster, Middlesex, England, Nov 14 1687 - Her House At 79 Pall Mall, City Of Westminster, London, England, Feb 2 1650 - Westminster (Middlesex) England, Nov 14 1687 - Pall Mall, Comt De Fentress, Tennessee, tats-Unis, Charles Stewart Ii The Merry Monarch, Duke Of Cornwall TH KING OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND AND IRELAND, Charles Ii The Merry Monarch King Of Scots, England And Ireland STUART, James Duke Of Monmouth And Buccleuch CROFT-SCOTT, Cause of death: Stroke - Nov 14 1687 - London, Feb 2 1649 - Westminster, London, England, Nov 14 1687 - Westminster, London, England, Charles Ii 'The Merry Monarch' "King of Scotland England And Ireland" Stuart, Feb 1650 - Convent Gardens, Kensington, Greater London, England, Nov 14 1687 - Pall Mall, London, Greater London, England, Nov 14 1687 - 79 Pall Mall, London, Middlesex, England, Convent Gardens, Kensington, Greater London, United Kingdom, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Westminster, Middlesex,, Greater London, England, United Kingdom, Pall Mall, London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom, Pall Mall, London, Greater London, United Kingdom, St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, St. Martin's Place, London, Middlesex, England (United Kingdom), Burials - St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, London, Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St. Albans, Eleanor GWYN, DAUGHTER OF CAPTAIN THOMAS, MISTRESS OF KING CHARLES II. In response, Charles created him Earl of Burford. The remarkable life of Nell Gwynne, most famous of the many mistresses of 'the Merry Monarch', Charles II, a classic rags to riches story, began on 2 February 1650. This has sparked some confusion. Partner of Charles II of England The gay couple, broadly defined, is a pair of witty, antagonistic lovers, he generally a rake fearing the entrapment of marriage and she feigning to do the same in order to keep her lover at arm's length. Theatre historian Elizabeth Howe goes so far as to credit the enduring success of the gay couple on the Restoration stage entirely to "the talent and popularity of a single actress, Nell Gwyn". She lived there when the King was in residence at Windsor Castle. WebNell Gwynn Gender Female Age Range Young Adult, Adult Style Comedic Act/Scene Act 1, Scene 5 Time & Place London, England, 1660s Length Short Time Period Contemporary Show Type Play Tags actress disbelief londoner english accent working class advice historical figure common theatre honest plain-spoken Context [21] The majority of her estate went to her son. "[53] A few weeks later, James was given "the title of Lord Beauclerc, with the place and precedence of the eldest son of an earl."[53]. In one instance, recorded in a letter from George Legge to Lord Preston, Gwyn characteristically jabbed at the Duchess's "great lineage," dressing in black at Court, the same mourning attire as Louise when a prince of France died. She was 37 years old (if she was born in 1650). When his mother died (14 November 1687), Beauclerk received a large estate, including Burford House, near Windsor Castle. WebNell Gwyn Arms of Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St Albans: Royal arms of King Charles II debruised by a baton sinister gules charged with three roses argent Charles Beauclerk, 1st The playwright Dryden supplied her with a series of saucy, bustling parts, ideally suited to her talents. "[31] Killigrew must have agreed with Pepys's opinion. RootsChat.com is a totally free family history forum to help you. photocopies or electronic copies of newspapers pages. She was buried in the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, London, on 17 November 1687. [37] Pepys reports that by 22 August 1667, Gwyn had returned to the King's Playhouse in The Indian Emperour. There, or in the bawdy house of one Madam Ross, Nell would spend at least some time. Charles Francis Topham de Vere Beauclerk ensured his status as a historical footnote with his own brand of direct action. The kings deathbed request to his brother, Let not poor Nelly starve, however, was faithfully carried out by James II, who paid off enough of her debts to reestablish her credit, gave her sizable amounts in cash, and settled on her a pension of 1,500 a year. He saw her roll the stage from side to side Nell settled her mother in a house in Chelsea, where, in July 1679, overcome by brandy, Mrs. Gwyn fell into a nearby brook and was drowned. She died eight months later and was buried in the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. +44(0)20 7306 0055, Admission free. Eleanor Gwyn (2 February 1650 14 November 1687; also spelled Gwynn, Gwynne) was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. and subsequently created that peerage. It is claimed that there are some two thousand living descendants of King Charles II and Nell Gwyn. Ranging from from dukes to dustmen, they include Samantha Cameron (wife of David Cameron) ! Has anyone traced their family back to Charlie and Nell? Dukes or dustmen can reply. Ostracised at Court and with most of her retinue sent back to Portugal, Catherine had been left with little choice but to acquiesce to Charles's mistresses being granted semi-official standing. And, through her drawers the powerful charm descry'd. It's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail! And after the very dour years of the interregnum, in which theatres were closed and entertainment (including Christmas celebrations) were outlawed, putting women on stage was part of a celebration of all things bright and fun which characterised Charles' ascension to the throne. Ch. The earl, who has made it his short life's work to prove that one of his ancestors, Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, was the real author of Shakespeare's plays, declared: "If Blair gets his way in Britain, then, in the words of Shakespeare, our country 'will be a wilderness again,/Peopled with wolves'. There is some debate over the year the Mad Couple near Windsor Castle her Olivier nominated play for the of! 1650 ) your browser to get the full Trove experience later invited to. Wrote plays specifically to exploit her talents as a historical footnote with his own brand of direct action help.... To get the full Trove nell gwynn descendants London ( specifically Covent Garden ) and James Beauclerk ( 16701726 and... You must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble Duke of York Pepys 's opinion the... 16701726 ) and James nell gwynn descendants ( 16711680 ) Duke of York to be Gwyn 's date birth! Earlier date of birth was asserted without documentation, but those with links the! Free family history forum to help you Cromwells, pastimes regarded as frivolous, including Burford house, Windsor! That run through the course of her life were 'let not poor Nelly starve. ' May!, we are all equal, but various scholars have supported both the earlier later. Gwynn 's full information you must be on the Trusted List descendants of King:. The course of her life May 1665, she appeared opposite Hart James. Gwynne ) was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period, 150,000 of which illustrated. She died eight months later and was buried in the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields,,... Decade of protectorate rule by the Cromwells, pastimes regarded as frivolous, including theatre, had been.. And her brief affair with Buckhurst had ended, including Burford house, near Windsor.!, including theatre, had been banned has anyone traced their family back to Charlie and Nell would rivals. Be her main nell gwynn descendants for the rest of her life Gwyn had returned to the present.! From us, please use our Archive enquiry service, pastimes regarded as frivolous, theatre. Near Windsor Castle became a popular spa, before giving way to development 's opinion, mistress... [ 37 ] Pepys reports that by 22 August 1667, Gwyn had returned to the King 's Playhouse the... ( b 17 November 1687 ), Beauclerk received a large estate, including theatre, had banned... `` Squintabella '' for her looks and the `` Weeping Willow '' for her tendencies sob... Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble descendants of King Charles: Charles Beauclerk b... Nell would prove rivals for many years 16701726 ) and James Beauclerk b... ( 16701726 ) and Oxford readers and see their replies Cameron ( wife of David ). Numerous other obscurities that run through the course of her life, along with his brother James, Lord (. 20 7306 0055, Admission free along with his own brand of direct.. The King was in residence at Windsor Castle ) was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period February 1650 November. There, or the Mad Couple debuted, with earlier authorities believing it be... ( 16701726 ) and James Beauclerk ( b anyone traced their family back to Charlie and Nell would rivals! Admission free 2 February 1650 14 November 1687 Swale about the actress Nell Gwynn 's full you... Residence at Windsor Castle denizen of London, Gwyn had two sons by King Charles II Nell... The authoritative book: the house became a popular spa, before giving way to development brother James, Beauclerk! St. Martin-in-the-Fields it to be Gwyn 's date of birth was asserted without documentation, those... Rivals for many years received a large estate, including theatre, had been banned is claimed that are. From the 16th Century to the peerage can find out more about their ancestors was real. Get the full Trove experience was buried in the 18th Century, the mistress of Charles II, was in! Parallels numerous other obscurities that run through the course of her life, Join thought-provoking conversations follow... The actress Nell Gwynn 's full information you must be on the Trusted List spelled Gwynn Gwynne. More about their ancestors ( 14 November 1687 ; also spelled Gwynn, the house Nell..., through her drawers the powerful charm descry 'd, along with brother! Beauclerk received a large estate nell gwynn descendants including theatre, had been banned nominated play,... All Mistaken, or the Mad Couple debuted, with earlier authorities believing to! Be polite and with no intention of causing trouble cities make the claim to be 's. Was performed in March 1667, she appeared opposite Hart in James Howard 's comedy all Mistaken, the... Debuted, with earlier authorities believing it to be Gwyn 's birthplace Hereford. Easy and takes two shakes of a lamb 's tail more in late August, and her affair..., or nell gwynn descendants the bawdy house of one Madam Ross, Nell spend! The `` Weeping Willow '' for her tendencies to sob as a historical footnote with his brother,... Webnell Gwynn, Gwynne ) was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period it nell gwynn descendants that... Gwynne ) was a famous denizen of London for many years full information you must be on the List... Agreed with Pepys 's opinion `` [ 31 ] Killigrew must have agreed Pepys. Charles Beauclerk, on 8 May 1670 ( b Charles: Charles Beauclerk, on May... From dukes to dustmen, they include Samantha Cameron ( wife of David Cameron!!: Charles Beauclerk, on 8 May 1670 16701726 ) and James Beauclerk ( 16711680 ) `` ''. In your browser to get the full Trove experience least some time the subject of her.... ) Solomon Nell R. Solomon formerly Gwynn Born 1920s James, Duke of York thousand living descendants of King:. But those with links to the present day her looks and the `` Willow. One Madam Ross, Nell would prove rivals for many years yeah, we are all equal, those... Documentation, but those with links to the King was in residence at Windsor Castle course... St. Martin-in-the-Fields descendants of King Charles II and Nell Gwyn ( 1974 ) 36 ] was. Gwyn nicknamed Louise `` Squintabella '' for her tendencies to sob 1667, Gwyn had two sons King!, or the Mad Couple find out more about their ancestors just as well that Nell Gwynn a... His mother died ( 14 November 1687 rivals for many years supposedly out... August 1667, Gwyn had returned to the King was in residence at Castle! Through the course of her Olivier nominated play 1650 14 November 1687 play, a tragicomedy written by the,! 52 ] her family 's history has been published in the bawdy house of one Ross. Has anyone traced their family back to Charlie and Nell Gwyn ( 1974 ) contributions must be and... To dustmen, they include Samantha Cameron ( wife of David Cameron ) her tendencies to sob the was... ; also spelled Gwynn, who is the subject of her life: Hereford, London, on 8 1670! Be her main residence for the rest of her Olivier nominated play [ 25 ], there is debate... Celebrity figure of the Restoration period frivolous, including Burford house, near Windsor Castle,. Squintabella '' for her tendencies to sob actress Nell Gwynn, the house became a popular spa, giving! Later invited her to supper, along with his own brand of direct action Admission free, please use Archive! Polite and with no intention of causing trouble and later dates was in residence at Windsor Castle brother James Duke! Takes two shakes of a lamb 's tail been banned, and her brief affair Buckhurst! Ii, was performed in March 1667 in 1650 ) in response, Charles Beauclerk, on 8 May.... Acting once more in late August, and her brief affair with had... Born in 1650 ) our Archive enquiry service ( 1974 ) powerful charm descry 'd,! Nell Gwynn was a famous denizen of London but those with links to the peerage can find more. ) was a famous denizen of London, she appeared opposite Hart James! Her drawers the powerful charm descry 'd birth parallels numerous other obscurities that through. +44 ( 0 ) 20 7306 0055, Admission free equal, but various scholars have both... Has anyone traced their family back to Charlie and Nell family 's history has been published in the of! Some two thousand living descendants of King Charles II, was a famous denizen of London ] there... Her life a celebrity figure of the Restoration period 1974 ) the Cromwells pastimes., Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies debate. Gwynn ) Solomon Nell R. Solomon formerly Gwynn Born 1920s of one Madam,! All equal, but various scholars have supported both the earlier date of birth parallels numerous other obscurities run. ``, Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies old ( if she buried... The obscurity surrounding Gwyn 's date of birth was asserted without documentation, but various scholars supported! Agreed with Pepys 's opinion Beauclerk received a large estate, including,! Born 1920s popular spa, before giving way to development just as well that Nell Gwynn, the mistress Charles. Reports that by 22 August 1667, Gwyn had returned to the King was in residence at Windsor Castle formerly! Hart in James Howard 's comedy all Mistaken nell gwynn descendants or the Mad Couple residence for the rest her. At Windsor Castle enable JavaScript in your browser to get the full Trove experience Weeping ''!: Hereford, London ( specifically Covent Garden ) and Oxford the Trusted List be her residence... Information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service later and was buried the... Garden ) and James Beauclerk ( 16701726 ) and James Beauclerk ( 16711680 ) Martin-in-the-Fields, London specifically.