Glover, Juliana "Julia"

1779

1850

Juliana (but known as Julia) Glover was born on 8 February 1779 at Newry, where her parents Thomas William Betterton and his wife (the widow of the actor Wingfield Palmer) often performed. With her parents she acted on the York circuit and in Ireland, then at Hereford, Bath and Bristol. Her London debut was at Covent Garden on 12 October 1797 as Elwina in “Percy”, followed by Charlotte Rusport in “The West Indian”. She was engaged at Covent Garden through 1801-2. Her father, who treated her brutally, sold her for a thousand pounds to Samuel Glover, scion of a large fortune, whom she was obliged to marry on 20 March 1800. On 21 October 1802 she acted Mrs Oakly in “The Jealous Wife” at Drury Lane where she remained for some years. She also appeared through 1850 in numerous other London theatres, including the Haymarket and the Strand. Among her notable roles were Joanna in “The Deserted Daughter”, Mrs Sullen in “The Beaux’ Stratagem”, Clarinda in “The Suspicious Husband”, Mrs Walsingham in “The School for Lovers” and Widow Warren in “The Road to Ruin”. On 5 February 1846, her 66th birthday, the Haymarket manager Webster presented her with a silver cup commemorating her 50 years on the stage. Soon after playing Mrs Malaprop in “The Rivals” – when she could barely speak – she died on 16 July 1850 and was buried on the 19th in the churchyard of St George the Martyr, Bloomsbury. Her administrator and eldest son, Edmund Glover (1813?-1860) acted and managed in London. Her second son, William Howard Glover (1819-1875), noticed in the DNB, became a composer and critic in New York. Her three daughters Georgina, Phyllis and Mary, were also actresses. Juliana Glover was considered a good performer, and James Boaden believed her to be the ablest actress in London in 1823. The BDA (6: 241) lists 18 portraits of her in private and theatrical character, including the Garrick Club pictures (G0265 and the missing G0943). (BDA)