1. William Dowton was considered the best representative of Malvolio on the English stage.
12 Facts About William Dowton
1. 2.
William Dowton played with great success Mr Hardcastle in She stoops to conquer, Clod in Young Quaker, Rupert in Jealous Wife, Sir Anthony Absolute in The Rivals, Major Sturgeon in The Mayor of Garrett, Governor Heartall in The Soldier's Daughter, and Dr Cantwell in The Hypocrite at the Lyceum on 23 Jan 1810.
3.
William Dowton continued at Drury Lane for many years, playing at the Haymarket Theatre in the summer months.
4.
William Dowton is said to have faced them down with a sword preserved at the Haymarket for years after, and the troops were called in to restore order.
5.
William Dowton then appeared at Drury Lane on 1 June 1830 as Falstaff, for the benefit of Miss Catherine Stephens.
6.
William Dowton was depicted playing this role by the artist Robert Buss and others, two of Buss's sketches being now hung in the Garrick Club.
7.
William Dowton was afterwards manager of theatres at Canterbury and Maidstone, but these he finally transferred to his son, and confined himself to acting.
8.
William Dowton gave evidence before the committee on dramatic literature in August 1832.
9.
William Dowton enjoyed good health to the last, and died at Brixton Terrace, Brixton, Surrey, 19 April 1851, in his eighty-eighth year.
10.
William Dowton married in 1794 Sarah Baker, an actress and singer on the Canterbury circuit and the daughter of the actress and theatre-manager Sarah Baker.
11.
William Dowton married Miss Whitaker, an actress, who after his decease became the wife of John Sloman, an actor.
12.
William Dowton died at Charleston, South Carolina, 7 February 1858.