GWYNN, GWIN, or GWYN, ELEANOR (1650-87). An English actress, mistress of Charles II. The place of her birth is not definite ly known. She was brought up in poverty, and as a child sold oranges at the Theatre Royal in London. In 1665 she made her first public appearance as Cydaria in Dryden's Indian Em peror, and from that time until 1682 (when she left the stage) was a great favorite in parts which required little emotional fervor. She was in no respect a great actress, and her sprightli ness, beauty, and skill in dancing seem to have been the chief causes of her popularity. She had many lovers, among them Charles Hart, the actor, and Charles Sackville, who in 1677 became sixth Earl of Dorset. About 1669 she became the mistress of the King, by whom she had two sons. Charles (1670), called Beauc]erk, who was subsequently made Duke of Saint Albans, and James (1071), who died young. She retained her
popularity throughout life. As the King's mis tress, she was received into the best of London society, and she was in favor with the people for her many acts of charity. She was illiterate, even for those times, hut her animation, humor, and good nature seem to have mote than over balanced her defects. According to Burnet and Evelyn, the dying request of Charles II. was, "Let not poor Nelly starve." After the King's death she led a quiet life. She died in London, and was buried in the Church of Saint Martin's in-the-FieldS. According to her request, Dr. Teni son, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, preached her funeral sermon. Consult: Seymour, Memoirs of the Life of Eleanor Gwinn (London, 1752) ; Cunningham, The Story of Nell Gwyn (London, 1850).