Louisa, Countess of Craven

Louisa, Countess of Craven, originally Louisa Brunton (1785?–1860) was an English actress.

Birth and background

Her father, John Brunton, son of a soap dealer in Norwich, was at one time a grocer in Drury Lane. He was an actor, and appeared at Covent Garden Theatre, 11 April 1774, as Cyrus, and, 3 May 1774, as Hamlet. He then played at Norwich and at Bath, Somerset, becoming ultimately manager of the Norwich theatre. Louisa Brunton was the youngest of six sisters, one of whom, Ann Brunton Merry, was also an actress, and married Robert Merry. According to some biographers, she was born in February 1785; but the date may have been two or three years earlier. She was aunt to the actress Miss Brunton, afterwards Mrs. Yates.

Stage career

On 5 October 1803 Brunton made her first stage appearance, at Covent Garden, playing Lady Townley in the Provoked Husband to the Lord Townley of Kemble. On 2 November she played Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing. She was the original creator of some roles in pieces of Thomas Morton, and William Dimond. On 21 October 1807 she played Clara Sedley in Frederic Reynolds's comedy The Rage. This is the last appearance recorded by John Genest. Her brother, who appeared at Covent Garden 22 September 1800 as Brunton the younger, was with her during her entire time at the theatre.

Marriage

Brunton left the stage in December 1807, and married, 30 December 1807, William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven. After the death of her husband, 30 July 1825, she lived in privacy, and died, almost forgotten, 27 August 1860.