Charke, Charlotte Cibber (1713–1760)

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Charke, Charlotte Cibber (1713–1760)

British novelist and actress. Name variations: Charlotte Cibber. Born 1713; died 1760; youngest of 12 children of Colley Cibber (actor) and Katherine Cibber (briefly an actress and singer at Drury Lane); m. Richard Charke (violinist), Feb 1730; briefly m. John Sacheverille; children: Katerine "Kitty" Charke.

Led wayward and adventurous life as actress and writer; often appeared in men's clothing and passed as a man on several occasions; finally deserted by family, ended life in poverty; wrote The Art of Management (1735), The Carnival; or, Harlequin Blunderer (1743), A Narrative of the Life of Mrs. Charlotte Charke (Youngest Daughter of Colley Cibber, Esq.) Written by Herself (1755), The Mercer; or, Fatal Extravagance (1755), The Lover's Treat; or, Unnatural Hatred (1758), The History of Henry Dumont, Esq.; and Miss Charlotte Evelyn (1758) and The History of Charley and Patty: or, The Friendly Strangers (1760).

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