Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 09.djvu/458

 SOTHERX

SOULE

SOTHERN, Edward Askew, actor, was born in Liverpool, Eiiglaiul, April 1, 1826. He was in- structed by a private tutor; studied surgery in London, and later studied theology for tluee years but abandoned it for the stage. His first appearance was made as Othello at the Theatre Royal, on the Island of Jersey, and for several years he was a nienibor of the stock companies touring througli tiie inovinces. He came to the United States in 1Sj3 and made his American debut in B<iston as Dr. Pangloss. He was twice discharged for incapacity and went to New York city, where he obtained engagements in stock companies, and toured in Washington and Balti- more. He became a member of James AV. "Wal- lack's company in New York in 18."54, and in Jan- uary. 1S.j7. was given the part of Armand Duval to Matilda Heron's Camille. In this he was suc- cessful, and in 1858 he joined Laura Keene's com- pany, being cast for the small part of Lord Dun- dreary, in " Our American Cousin." He rewrote the part and played it with such humor and origi- nality that it was the hit of the piece. He then elaborated the part which became the most pro- nounced success of his career. The play ran 496 successive nights at the Haymarket theatre, London. Mr. Sothern starred in Great Britain, Australia and America in " David Garrick;" as Dundreary; as Sidney Spoonbill in the " Hornet's Nest,"' and as Fitz Altamont in the "Crushed Tragedian." Of his sons, Edward Lytton, Ed- ward Hugh (q.v.) and Sam, became well known actors. He died in London, England, Jan. 20, 1881. SOTHERN, Edward Hugh, actor, was born in New Orleans, La., Dec. 6. 1859; son of Edward Askew Sothern (q.v.). He attended the English school at Warwickshire, England, and the Mary- lebone grammar school, London, studied drawing at the Heatherly pre- paratory school, and painting and color in Spain. Failing to se- cure admission as a student to the Royal academy of London, he reluctantly aban- doned painting and joined his father's company, then play- ing at Abby's Park theatre, Broadway, N.Y., making his first appearance as the cabman in "Sam" in September, 1879. Ho was a member of the Boston Maseum Stock company for .several months, and returned to England with liis father's company, where he joined John McCullougli's company for a tour in

Z. ff\~cU^

America. He played at the Criterion, Standard, Royalty and other London theatres, and in 1882 toured with his brother, Edward Lytton Sothern, in low comedy parts in England. In 1883 he re- joined McCulIough in America as head comedian. He took part in "The Fatal Letter" at the Union Square theatre, New York city, and in 1884 traveled in New York, Boston and Brooklyn in " Whose are They? " a farce written by himself. He was engaged by Charles Frohman for '•Three Wives and One Husband." He supported Estelle Clayton in " Favette " at the Union Square theatre and on a tour, and later was engaged with Helen Dauvray's company at the Lyceum theatre. New York city, as Captain Gregory in " One of our Girls;" Prosper Couramont in "A Scrap of Paper"; Dr. Lee in " Met by Chance; " Ernest Vane in " Peg WofSngton," and Wildrake in "The Love Chase." He was engaged by Daniel Frohman to star in the part of Jack Hamilton in " The Highest Bidder," at the Lyceum theatre, and made a metropolitan success and toured with the play. He also starred in " The Maister of Woodbarrow "; " Editha's Burglar "; " The Great Pink Pearl "; " The Victoria Cross "; " The Danc- ing Girl "; " Lord Chumley "; " Captain Letter- blair"; "The Way to "Win a Woman"; "The Prisoner of Zenda "; " An Enemy to the King "; "The Adventures of the Lady Ursula"; "The Song of the Sword"; "A Shilling's Worth" (1898); "The Sunken Bell" (1899); "Hamlet" (1900); "Richard Lovelace" (1901); "If I were King" (1901-1903). He was married, Dec. 3. 1896, to Virginia Harned, who had been his leading woman for several years.

SOULE, Carolina Augusta, minister and autlior, was born in Albany. N.Y., Sept. 3, 1824; daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Merselis) White; granddaughter of Nathaniel and Abigail (Steele) White, and of Gilbert (a native of the south of France) and Sarah Van Bentliuisen Merselis, and a descendant of the Van Ben- thuisens, earliest settlers (Holland) of Albany, and the Whites and Steeles (English), earliest settlers of Hartford, Vt. She was graduated with honors from Albany Female academy, N.Y., in 1841, and was principal of the female department of the Clinton Liberal institute, N.Y.. 1842. She was married, Aug. 28, 1843, to the Rev. Henry Birdsall, son of Clement and Mary (O'Dell) Soule, of Dover, N.Y., who died, January 30, 1852, leav- ing her with five children. She engaged in literary work, and was editor of The Rosebud, an annual, 1854-55: corresponding editor of th& Ladies' Repository, Boston, 1855-63. and owned and edited for eleven years 77ie Guiding Star, a Sundaj'-school publication in New York. She was ordained to the Universalist ministry in 1880, and was pastor at St. Paul's Universalist church.