Knight, Thomas

1820

Thomas Knight was born into a well-regarded Dorsetshire family, was intended for the law, and was placed under the actor Charles Macklin for tuition in elocution. He was attracted to the stage and made his first appearances at Richmond. After acting at Lancaster and Edinburgh, he joined Tate Wilkinson’s company at York, first appearing there as Lothario in “The Fair Penitent” in August 1782. While under Wilkinson he developed into a good actor. Engagements followed at Sheffield and Bath, and after an apprenticeship of some 25 years in the provinces, Knight made his first appearance in London at Covent Garden on 25 September 1795 as Jacob Gawkey in “The Chapter of Accidents”. De Wilde painted the picture of him in that role (G0409) soon after. Knight’s rustic simplicity charmed audiences and he was kept busy in a number of similar parts, including Farmer Harrow (Roger) in “The Ghost”, the role in which he was painted by Zoffany (G0411). Though he toured in the summers with his actress wife Margaret (the sister of the more famous Elizabeth Farren), whom he had married in London in March 1788, Knight was a mainstay at Covent Garden through the season of 1803-4. He took his farewell of London on 15 May 1804, playing Farmer Ashfield in “Speed the Plough” and Lenitive in “The Prize”. Knight then assumed the management of the theatre at Liverpool, which he ran successfully for 16 years. He enjoyed the comfortable life of a country gentleman at homes in Lichfield and Woore. He died suddenly at his country home in Woore on 4 February 1820. His wife Margaret had died earlier, at Bath, on 28 June 1804. Knight made generous bequests to a number of his family. He had been a fine comedian and was characterised as ‘an admirable actor, and a worthy man.’ In addition to the portraits of him in the Garrick Club by De Wilde, Zoffany and Wageman (G0410), pictures of Knight were painted by Woolley, Bond and an anonymous artist. (BDA)