Editing William Abbot (actor) (section)

==Life==
Abbot was born in [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]] just outside [[London]], and made his first appearance on the stage at [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] in 1806, and his first [[London]] appearance in 1808, at the [[Haymarket Theatre]], in a benefit performance.<ref name="ODNB"/> There he appeared as Frederick in an 1809 production of ''[[Lovers' Vows]]''.<ref name=":0" />  At the [[Covent Garden Theatre]] in 1813, in light [[comedy]] and [[melodrama]], he made his first definite success.<ref name="ODNB"/> He was Pylades to [[William Charles Macready]]'s Orestes in [[Ambrose Philips]]'s ''Distressed Mother'' when Macready made his first appearance there, in 1816.  He created the parts of Appius Claudius in [[Sheridan Knowles]]'s ''[[Virginius (play)|Virginius]]'' (1820) and of Modus in his ''[[The Hunchback (play)|The Hunchback]]'' (1832).{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

In 1827 Abbot organized the company, including [[Harriet Smithson]], which acted [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]] in [[Paris]]. His position was as stage manager; he performed at the [[Salle Favart]], but not to plaudits.<ref name="ODNB"/>  On his return to [[London]] he played Romeo to [[Fanny Kemble]]'s ''Juliet'' (1830).  Two of Abbot's melodramas, ''[[The Youthful Days of Frederick the Great]]'' (1817) and ''[[Swedish Patriotism]]'' (1819), were produced at Covent Garden.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}}

Abbot also worked in America, where he first appeared as "Mr. Beverly" in an 1832 production of ''[[The Gamester (Moore)|The Gamester]]'' at the [[Park Theatre (Brooklyn)|Park Theatre]] in New York.<ref name=":0" /> Later he moved to [[Charleston, South Carolina]], where he created the [[New Charleston Theatre]] and operated it from 1837 through 1841. This theatre brought stars like [[Ellen Tree]] to the company there, but did not enjoy major success.<ref name="ODNB"/>

William Abbot probably died in New York on 7 June 1843,<ref name="ODNB"/><ref name=":0" /> although some sources say that he died in [[Baltimore, Maryland]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} He had married an actress, Elizabeth Bradshaw née Buloid.<ref name="ODNB"/>