KEMBLE, FRANCES ANNE (Mrs. FANNY KEMBLE), b. England, 1811; daughter of Charles Kemble, and granddaughter of Roger Kemble. The famous Mrs. Siddons was her father's sister. She made her first appearance on the stage, Oct. 5, 1829, in the character of "Juliet," with her father in the part of "Romeo." In 1832, better known to •the world as Fanny Kemble, she came to New York, accompanied by her father. She appeared for the first time as " Bianca," in Fuzio, at the old Park theater. She was then in the midst of her theatrical career; success was assured. As "Portia " and " Lady Teazle" she shone unrivaled, and reached her crowning triumph as "Julia," in Sheridan Knowles's masterpiece, the Hunchback, written expressly for her. In 1831 she married Pierce Butler of Philadelphia, a descendant of Pierce Butler of South Carolina; retired from the stage, and in 1838 went to South Carolina. In 1817 she made a reappearance on the English stage as " Lady Teazle," at the theater Royal, Manchester. In 1849 she returned to the United States, and, having
obtained a divorce from her husband, resumed her maiden name and went to reside in Lenox, Berkshire co., Mass. Since that time she has given readings from Shakespeare and other dramatic authors in the principal cities of the United States and Great Brit ain. She has a magnificent presence; her voice is characterized as flexible, ample in quantity, and harmonious, and her self-possession as remarkable. During the war of the rebellion she resided in England, and contributed valuable articles to the London Times in favor of the U.S. government. She.published Francis the First, an _Historical Drama (Land., 1S32); Journal of Frances Anne Butler (Phila., 1835); The Star of Seville, a Drama (1837); Poems (Phila., 1844); A Year of Consolation (1847), descriptive of a tour through France to Rome, and Italian life and scenery; Residence on a Georgia Plantation (1863); and a volume of poems.