Born in London on November 27, 1809, Frances Anne Kemble was one of five children of Charles and Marie Thérèse (De Camp) Kemble. A niece of Sarah Siddons and the daughter and granddaughter of actors, Frances followed her forebears into the theatre, achieving dramatic succes under the betterknown name of Fanny Kemble. After acting for three years in Covent Garden and throughout the British Isles, she travelled to the United States in 1832, making her American acting debut on September 18. This American tour marked the first of many trips she would make between England and the U.S. during her lifetime. Both personally and professionally Fanny was well liked in the U.S. throughout the years, winning large numbers of friends and acquaintances, as well as great popular acclaim for her performances. First appearing in plays and later presenting evenings of dramatic readings, Fanny continued to be in great demand for as many performances as she would consent to give.

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