Smithson, Henrietta Constance
SMITHSON, HENRIETTA CONSTANCE (1800-1854), Irish actress, was the daughter of a theatrical manager. She made icr first stage appearance in 1815 at the Crow Street theatre, Dublin, as Albina Mandeville in Reynolds's Will. Three years ater she made her first London appearance at Drury Lane as etitia Hardy. She had no particular success in England; but in Paris, in 1828 and 1832, whither she first went with Vlacready, she aroused immense enthusiasm as Desdemona, Virginia, Juliet and Jane Shore. She had a host of admirers, among them Hector Berlioz (q.v.), whom she married in 1833. They separated in 1840. At the time of her marriage her popularity was already over and she was deeply in debt. A jenefit was given her, but she had the mortification of seeing rival applauded when she herself was coldly received. She retired from the stage, and died on the 3rd of March 1854.
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
