Thomas Knight

Thomas Knight (died 1820), actor and dramatist, was born in Dorset of a family of no great wealth. Early career He was intended for the legal profession, and received from Charles Macklin, the actor, lessons in elocution. A favourite with Macklin, he accompanied him to the theatre, acquiring in his visits tastes which led him to adopt the stage as a profession. At an unrecorded date he appeared at the Richmond Theatre in Charles Surface, and failed conspicuously. He then joined Austin's company at Lancaster. Before leaving London he tried vainly to force upon Macklin a remuneration for his services as a teacher. Tate Wilkinson saw Knight, it is said, in Edinburgh, and engaged him for the York circuit. His first appearance was made in York in 1782 as Lothario to the Calista of Mrs Jordan. Wilkinson, who was greatly disappointed with him, advised him to quit the stage, but Knight struggled on, playing Charles Oakley, Spatterdash in the Young Quaker, Carbine in the Fair American, etc., and gradually grew in public favour. Wilkinson generously acknowledged the error of his former judgement, and during the five years in which Knight remained with the company he took the lead, and had only one quarrel with the management. Finding his name as Twineall in Such things are put third on the list, the customary place for the character, he insisted on its place being first, and being refused did not appear. On 27 October 1787 he played at the Bath Theatre as the Copper Captain, Spatterdash, Ramilie in the 'Miser', Duke of Monmouth in 'Such things were', and Marquis in the 'Midnight Hour' followed. Marriage In 1787 Knight married at Bath, Margaret Farren, sister of the Countess of Derby (Elizabeth Farren).