May Fortescue

May Fortescue in an 1886 carte de visite

May Fortescue (9 February 1859[1] – 2 September 1950) was an English actress, singer and actor-manager of the Victorian era and a protégée of playwright W. S. Gilbert. She was a member of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1881 to 1883, when she left the company following her engagement to a nobleman, young Arthur Cairns, Lord Garmoyle (later the 2nd Earl Cairns). Cairns soon broke off the engagement under pressure from his friends, and Fortescue returned to the stage in leading roles.

With the £10,000 that she received in her breach of promise lawsuit, Fortescue started her own touring theatre company, often performing the plays of W. S. Gilbert. Coincidentally, Gilbert visited Fortescue on the day he died. Her acting career continued until 1926.

  1. ^ "May Fortescue", London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813–1906, London Metropolitan Archives, Ealing St Mary, Register of Baptism, DRO/037/A/01, Item 014.