Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 33.djvu/383

Rh A portrait, painted in 1700 by T. Forster, was engraved by J. Simon (, Cat. of Engraved Portraits). 

LITTLEWOOD, WILLIAM EDENSOR (1831–1886), miscellaneous writer, born at London 2 Aug. 1831, was only son of George Littlewood, printer, of London, by Catherine, his wife. He was educated at Merchant Taylors' School and at Pembroke College, Cambridge, which he entered on 12 June 1850. He gained in 1851 the chancellor's medal by an English poem of more than average merit on Gustavus Adolphus, printed in ‘A Complete Collection of English Poems,’ Cambridge, 1859, 8vo. He graduated B.A. in 1854, taking a third class in classics and being bracketed thirty-fifth wrangler. He proceeded M.A. in 1860, was ordained deacon in 1857, and priest in 1858. He was curate of St. John's, Wakefield, in 1857–61, head-master of Hipperholme grammar school, Halifax, Yorkshire, 1861–8, curate of Southall, Middlesex, 1868–70, perpetual curate of Ironville, Derbyshire, 1870–2, vicar of St. James's, Bath, 1872–81, and afterwards home missionary in charge of St. Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London. He died on 3 Sept. 1886. Besides various contributions to the ‘Sunday at Home,’ Littlewood published: 1. ‘A Garland from the Parables,’ a volume of religious verse, London, 1858, 8vo. 2. ‘Essentials of English History,’ London, 1862, 8vo; 2nd edit. 1865. 3. ‘An Elementary History of Britain’ (in ‘Cassell's Primary Series’), London, 1869, 8vo. 4. ‘England at Home. Being a familiar Description of the principal Physical, Social, Commercial, and Topographical features of England and Wales,’ London, 1870, 8vo. 5. ‘Essentials of New Testament Study. Intended as a Companion to the New Testament’ (a work of considerable and well-digested learning), London, 1872, 8vo; 6. ‘Down in Dingyshire,’ 1872. 7. ‘The Story of the Wanderer,’ 1874. 8. ‘Lovely in their Lives: a book for earnest boys,’ London, 1876, 8vo. 9. ‘The Visitation of the Poor: a practical Manual for District Visitors,’ &c., Bath, 1876, 16mo. 10. ‘Bible Biographies, or Stories from the Old Testament,’ London, 1878, 8vo. 

LITTON, MARIE (1847–1884), actress, whose real name was, a native of Derbyshire, was born in 1847. She made what was said to be her first appearance on any stage at the Princess's Theatre, 23 March 1868, as Effie Deans in a revised version by Boucicault of his adaptation from the ‘Heart of Midlothian,’ the ‘Trial of Effie Deans.’ It was a performance of much promise. On the opening of the Gaiety Theatre, 21 Dec. 1868, Miss Litton played Mrs. Cureton in ‘On the Cards,’ an adaptation by Mr. Alfred Thompson from ‘L'Escamoteur.’ At the same house she appeared, 13 Dec. 1869, in Byron's ‘Uncle Dick's Darling.’ She was for a time connected with the Brighton Theatre. On 25 Jan. 1871 she undertook the management of the Court Theatre in Sloane Square, London, and opened with ‘Randall's Thumb’ by (Sir) W. S. Gilbert. She retained the theatre for more than three years, and during that period placed on the stage, among other pieces, ‘Creatures of Impulse,’ ‘Great Expectations,’ ‘On Guard,’ the ‘Happy Land,’ and the ‘Wedding March,’ all by (Sir) W. S. Gilbert; ‘Broken Spells,’ by Westland Marston and W. G. Wills; ‘A Son of the Soil,’ adapted from ‘Le Lion Amoureux’ of Ponsard, by Mr. Herman C. Merivale; ‘Alone,’ by Palgrave Simpson and Herman Merivale; the ‘White Pilgrim,’ by Merivale; ‘Ready-Money Mortiboy,’ by (Sir) Walter Besant and James Rice; and ‘Brighton,’ adapted by Frank Marshall from ‘Saratoga’ of Bronson Howard. Miss Litton took secondary parts at her own theatre, and while managing the Court played Zayda at the Haymarket in Gilbert's ‘Wicked World’ (4 Jan. 1874). On 13 March 1874 she resigned the Court Theatre to Mr. Hare. On 24 April 1875 she was at the St. James's the original Caroline Effingham in Mr. Gilbert's ‘Tom Cobb,’ which was produced under her management. Two years later, at the Prince of Wales's, Tottenham Street, Tottenham Court Road, she played Mrs. Montressor in Tom Taylor's ‘An Unequal Match.’

Miss Litton first achieved distinguished success when she appeared in old comedy. In 1878 she took the theatre attached to the Royal Aquarium at Westminster, which she subsequently called the Imperial, and began with a fairly strong company a series of revivals of so-called classic pieces. She herself played Lady Teazle, Lydia Languish, Olivia in the ‘Vicar of Wakefield,’ and Miss Hardcastle. Without ever attaining a thorough mastery of her art, she displayed in these