John+Verbruggen

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John Baptista Verbruggen was an English actor in London who was a member of the United Company in a Lord Chamberlain's warrant dated in 12 January 1688 (Highfill). He was a highly admired and loved actor, but there were critics who did not like him performing, most notably in his role as Prince Frederick in Aphra Behn's //The Younger Brother// (Highfill). He was often praised for his work ethic and passionate performance. The audience also loved him whenever he performed and was greatly sought out to perform leading roles or simply read prologues and epilogues (Betterton). Although he was loved by many it became hard to track his performances before he married. His name was constantly misspelled as Verbrugen, Verbroggell, Verkruggan, and Verbrugger (Highfill). Even some critics and scholars believe that he once used the name Alexander at the beginning of his career. His name does not appear on casts lists until October 1690 at Drury Lane Theater. This was the year that he listed as one of the three Persian Magi in //Distress’d Innocence// (Highfill).

=** Career **=

Before the United Company split, Verbruggen was mostly known for: Tygranes in //The Ambitious Slave//, Ambrosio in //Don Quixote//, and Lovell in //The// //Canterbury Guests// (Highfill). Later on, many of the older players in United Company left and caused Drury Lane to have to rely on younger and less experienced performers. Not wanting to lose Verbruggen as well to a rival company, they gave him a raise of “£2 to £4 weekly” (Highfill). One of the firsts plays he was in with the Drury Lane company was Belfont on September 1695 in //The Mock Marriage//. While Verbruggen often played at Drury Lane he also performed at Dorset Garden. Some of the parts include: His performances with the company would come to an end, however, after a dispute with the Drury Lane Company. According to Davies, Verbruggen attacked one of the actors in the company (Davies). It is now commonly stated that he “violently assaulted Boile (or Boyle) and "Broke him" and the peace; his abuse of Skipwith consisted of reproachful and scandalous words, and for his behaviour Verbruggen was discharged from acting” (Highfill). As a result, Lord Chamberlain ordered him to stay with the company until they could find a replacement for him. Afterwards, Verbruggen was allowed to join any other theater he wished (Davies). Despite him leaving and the accusations, many believe that Verbruggen was not at fault in the dispute. Once he left Drury Lane, he joined Betterton and his players at the Lincoln’s Inn Fields Theater. He played as:
 * Suetonius in //Bonduca//
 * Sebastian in //The Rival Sisters//
 * Carrasco in //Don Quixote//
 * // Oroonoko //
 * Alvaro in //Agnes de Castro//
 * Loveless in //Love's Last Shift//
 * Prince Frederick in //The Younger Brother//
 * Wilmore in //The Lost Lover//
 * // Pausanius //
 * // Ibrahim //
 * Alphonso in //The Unhappy Kindness//
 * Governor in //The Spanish Wives//
 * Lord Whimsical in //The Female Wits//
 * Loveless in //The Relapse//
 * // Othello //

He was also given many prologues to read, such as in Love's Last Shift. This indicates that he was very popular with the audience and was appealing in looks and voice.
 * Manuel in //The Mourning Bride//
 * Constant in //The Provok'd Wife//
 * Guillamour in //The Intrigues at Versailles//
 * Sir Francis Wildlove in //The Innocent Mistress.//

Later, from 1697 to the opening of the New Queen’s Theater in 1705, Verbruggen continued to appear in more roles at Lincoln’s Inn Fields such as:
 * **Role** || **Performance** ||
 * Frederico || // The Italian Husband // ||
 * Fidelio || // The Deceiver Deceived // (later called // The French Beau) // ||
 * Achillies || //Heroick Love // ||
 * Ricardo || //Beauty in Distress // ||
 * Castalio || //The Fatal Friendship // ||
 * the Duke of Clarence || //Queen Catherine // ||
 * King Barnagasso || //Victorious Love // ||
 * Xerxes ||  ||
 * Barbarelli || //The Princess of Parma // ||
 * Emilius || //The False Friend // ||
 * Maherbal || //Friendship Improved// ||
 * Cuningham || //The Amorous Widow // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hotspur || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Henry IV // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Claudio || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Measure for Measur // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Mirabel || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Way of the World // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">the younger Clerimont || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Beau Defeated // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Junius || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Fate of Capua // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Cassius || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Julius Caesar // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Artaxerxes || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Ambitious Stepmother // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Polidore || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Ladies Visiting Day // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Antonio || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Jew of Venice // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Cyraxes || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Double Distress // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Censor || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Gentleman Cully // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Bajazet || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tamerlane // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Moreno || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Love Betray'd // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Hartley || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As You Find It // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Altamont || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Fair Penitent // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Edgar || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">King Lear // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Apemantus || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Timon of Athens // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Alexander || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Rival Queens // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Iago || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Othello // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pierre || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Venice Preserv'd // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pyrrhus || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Abra Mule // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Page || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Merry Wives of Windsor // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Caesar || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Borgia // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Amphialus || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Zelmayne // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Clerimont || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Biter // ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Young Valere || //<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Gamester // ||

Wilkes often compares other actors to Verbruggen. He stated in his article that “Verbruggen, whose eye had an infinity of fire, and who had great command of face, acquired vast reputation”(Wilkes). Verbruggen played Mirabel in Congreve’s //The Way of the World//, which indicates that he is very handsome and charming. Mirabel is a handsome character in the play, and Verbruggen was specifically chosen for the role. The Way of the World was considered to be “the last of the important dramatic works of Congreve” (The Times). In a review the play was said to be an artificial comedy, but it was great and the performances were well done. (The Times). In //Oroonoko// by Thomas Southerne, Southerne praised Verbruggen for his dedication and performance. He thanked his Lord for recommending him and telling him about Verbruggen's skill on the stage (Southerne).

= **Personal Life** =



= = On January 31, 1694, John Verbruggen married Susanna Mountfort, the widow of the actor William Mountfort (Highfill). They had a child in 1703, according to the registers “in the parish they must have moved sometime after their marriage in 1694" (Highfill). Their son, Lewis Verbruggen, was born in May 17, 1703 and baptized on May 27 (Highfill). Unfortunately Mrs. Verbruggen died in 1703, between July and August. Their son died the following October. When Verbruggen died, he was buried on March 12, 1708 (Highfill).

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Betterton, Thomas. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The History of the English Stage, from the Restauration to the Present Time. Including the Lives, Characters and Amours, Of the Most Eminent Actors and Actresses. With Instructions for Public Speaking; Wherein The Action and Utterance of the Bar, Stage, and Pulpit Are Distinctly Considered. By Mr. Thomas Betterton. Adorned with Cuts //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. London: Printed for E. Curll, at Pope's-Head in Rose-Street, Covent-Garden, n.d. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Eighteenth Century Collections Online //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.
 * Works Cited**

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Davies, Thomas. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Dramatic Miscellanies: Consisting of Critical Observations on Several Plays of Shakspeare: With a Review of His Principal Characters, and Those of Various Eminent Writers, as Represented by Mr. Garrick, and Other Celebrated Comedians. ... By Thomas Davies, ... In Three Volumes. ... //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> Vol. 3. Dublin: Printed for S. Price, H. Whitestone, W. Wilson, R. Moncrieffe, L. White, [and 6 Others in Dublin], 1784. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Eighteenth Century Collections Online //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">Highfill, Philip H., Kalman A. Burnim, and Edward A. Langhans. A Biographical Dictionary Of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel In London, 1660-1800.Carbondale, Ill: Southern Illinois University Press, 1993.eBook Collection (EBSCOhost).Web. 2 Nov. 2016.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Southerne, Thomas. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Oroonoko. A Tragedy. By Mr. Tho. Southern //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Dublin: Printed by and for George Grierson, at the Two Bibles in Essex-Street, 1731. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Eighteenth Century Collections Online //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.

//<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Times //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (London, England), Monday, Dec 19, 1842; pg. 5; Issue 18170.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Wilkes, Thomas. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A General View of the Stage. By Mr. Wilkes //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. London: Printed for J. Coote, in Pater-Noster Row; and W. Whetstone, in Skinner Row, Dublin, n.d. //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Eighteenth Century Collections Online //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue',HelveticaNeue,'TeX Gyre Heros',TeXGyreHeros,FreeSans,'Nimbus Sans L','Liberation Sans',Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.