Margaret Bicknell

Margaret Bicknell (1695?–1723) was a Scottish theatre actress and dancer.

Margaret Bicknell
Born	Margaret Younger[1] 1695 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	1723 London, England
Occupation	Actress and dancer
Years active	circa 1700s–1723
Spouse(s)	married a Younger

Early life and education

She was sister of Elizabeth Younger, an actress, who survived her some years. Younger informed Mrs. Saunders, a well-known actress who had for some years quitted the stage, that her father and mother, James and Margaret Younger, were born in Scotland. [2]

Career

Bicknell's first known appearance was at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, located in London, England, on 20 August 1702.[3] On 7 November 1706 we hear of Mrs. Bicknell playing, at the Haymarket Theatre, "Edging, a Chambermaid," in "The Careless Husband" of Cibber, her associates including Wilks, Cibber, Mrs. Oldfield, and Mrs. Barry. [2]

Subsequent years saw her appear as Miss Prue in Congreve's "Love for Love," Miss Hoyden in the "Relapse" of Vanbrugh, Melantha in "Marriage à la Mode," and other characters of which sauciness and coquetry are the chief features. Her name appears to a petition signed by Barton Booth and other actors of Drury Lane Theatre, presented apparently about 1710 to Queen Anne, complaming of the restrictions upon the performances of the petitioners imposed by the lord chamberlain.[2]

She remained at Druiy Lane from 1708 to 1721, on 14 February of which year she 'created' the character of Lady Wrangle in Cibber's comedy, the "Refusal." Her last recorded appearance was on 2 April 1723. The 'Daily Journal' of 25 May following announces her death from consumption. [2]

Personal life

Her sister Elizabeth Younger was also a stage actress and dancer.[3]

Notes

1. Goff, Moira. Bicknell [née Younger], Margaret (1681–1723) — Actress and Dancer
2. Knight 1886.
3. Goff 2008.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Knight, John Joseph (1886). "Bicknell, M". In Stephen, Leslie (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. 5. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
• Goff, Moira (2008). "Margaret Bicknell". In Lynn Brooks (ed.). Bicknell+Younger,+Margaret&hl=en&sa=X&ei=oKdSU89WwamwBPrQgOgI&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Bicknell%20Younger%2C%20Margaret&f=false Women’s Work: Making Dance in Europe before 1800. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 184–185. ISBN 9780299225339.