Biography

George Bartley (c.1782-1858), comedian, was born in Bath in or about 1782; one source states 1784. His father was box-keeper at the Bath theatre, and he thus had early opportunities of acquiring some stage experience, appearing in such characters as the page in Cross's musical drama The Purse. Bartley appeared at Cheltenham in the summer of 1800 as Orlando in As You Like It, and is said to have reappeared in Bath before joining a travelling company. His London début is said to have taken place on 11 December 1802, but was most probably, as he himself stated, a week later. His opening character was Orlando. On 17 July 1858 Bartley had an attack of paralysis, to which, five days later, on 22 July, he succumbed at his home, 11 Woburn Square.

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