born July 23, 1816, Boston, Mass., U.S.
died Feb. 18, 1876, Boston
U.S. actress.
She made her opera debut in Boston at age 19, but her singing voice soon failed and she turned to acting. In 1837 she first played her most popular role, Meg Merrilies in Guy Mannering , and she became the first native-born U.S. theatre star. From 1842 she managed a theatre in Philadelphia, where she starred with William Macready in Macbeth . In 185455 she toured England to great acclaim. Noted for her powerful emotional reach, she portrayed Lady Macbeth and male roles such as Romeo and Hamlet.
Charlotte Cushman as Meg Merrilies in Guy Mannering .
By courtesy of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.