Mrs Brown-Potter
Encyclopedia
Cora Urquhart Brown-Potter (May 15, 1857 – February 12, 1936), was one of the first American society women to become a stage actress.
She married James Brown-Potter in 1877 and they had a daughter, Anne in 1879. They visited England
in 1886 where they met the Prince of Wales
and were subsequently invited to spend the weekend with him. James returned to the United States
alone following the visit as Mary remained in England
to pursue a career on stage. She made her stage debut in 1877 at the Theatre Royal
in Brighton
in the play Civil War. Later that year she started a successful partnership with Harold Kyrle Bellew
at the Fifth Avenue Theatre
in the New York production of Civil War.
She and Harold toured the world and starred together for the next ten years.
Despite the fact her husband divorced her in 1903 she continued to use her married name as her stage name. Her last appearance on the London
stage was in 1912. She made a further stage appearance in 1919 for a benefit production in Guernsey
.
In addition to her stage career she helped to raise money for war charities during the Second Boer War
.
She died on February 12, 1936 at her villa in Beaulieu-sur-Mer
not far from Monaco along the French Riviera. Shortly before her death Cora Urquhart Brown-Potter chose to become a French citizen. -
Biography
Mary Cora Urquhart was born in 1857 at New Orleans the eldest of three daughters and a son raised by David and Augusta (née Slocomb) Urquhart. Her father was a merchant and her mother the daughter of a hardware merchant.She married James Brown-Potter in 1877 and they had a daughter, Anne in 1879. They visited England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1886 where they met the Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales is a title traditionally granted to the heir apparent to the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the 15 other independent Commonwealth realms...
and were subsequently invited to spend the weekend with him. James returned to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alone following the visit as Mary remained in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to pursue a career on stage. She made her stage debut in 1877 at the Theatre Royal
Theatre Royal, Brighton
The Theatre Royal, Brighton is a theatre in Brighton, England, United Kingdom presenting a range of West End and touring musicals and plays, along with performances of opera and ballet and a Christmas pantomime.-History:...
in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
in the play Civil War. Later that year she started a successful partnership with Harold Kyrle Bellew
Kyrle Bellew
Harold Kyrle Money Bellew , more commonly known as Kyrle Bellew, was a British stage and silent film actor in the late 19th and early 20th century. Bellew notably toured with Cora Brown-Potter in the 1880s and 1890s and was cast as the leading man in many stage productions alongside Brown-Potter...
at the Fifth Avenue Theatre
Fifth Avenue Theatre
Fifth Avenue Theatre was a Broadway theatre in New York City in the United States located at 31 West 28th Street and Broadway. It was demolished in 1939....
in the New York production of Civil War.
She and Harold toured the world and starred together for the next ten years.
Despite the fact her husband divorced her in 1903 she continued to use her married name as her stage name. Her last appearance on the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
stage was in 1912. She made a further stage appearance in 1919 for a benefit production in Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
.
In addition to her stage career she helped to raise money for war charities during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
She died on February 12, 1936 at her villa in Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer
Beaulieu-sur-Mer , Italian: Belluogo, is a seaside village on the French Riviera between Nice and Monaco. It is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department and borders the communes of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Èze, and Villefranche-sur-Mer.-History:...
not far from Monaco along the French Riviera. Shortly before her death Cora Urquhart Brown-Potter chose to become a French citizen. -