Elizabeth and Maria Pope

Two actresses, the first and second wives of Irish actor and painter Alexander Pope (1763-1835), are buried together in the west cloister of Westminster Abbey but they seem not to have had any inscribed gravestone. He was the principal actor at Covent Garden theatre in London.

Elizabeth Pope

Elizabeth was buried on 22nd March 1797 aged 52, between the graves of Sir Richard Jebb and Dr Dupuis, according to the burial register. She was born in Southwark, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Young and may have been the person baptised at St Olave's church on 14th January 1744. She began her career as a milliner but was introduced to the famous actor David Garrick by his brother and David was very impressed with her. She became a leading actress of her day, performing in both comedy and tragedy at Covent Garden and Drury Lane theatres. In August 1785 in Dublin she married Alexander, and died in Piccadilly in London. They had one son who probably died while serving in the navy.

Maria Ann Pope

Maria Ann Pope (nee Campion) was born in Waterford in Ireland and buried on 25th June 1803 aged 28. She married Alexander as his second wife at St George's Hanover Square in London on 24th January 1798. She appeared on stage as Mrs Spencer in Dublin in 1790 and in 1797 came to London to the Covent Garden theatre. She suffered a stroke while playing Desdemona and died not long afterwards. She left a daughter.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography for Elizabeth Pope

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography for Maria Pope