Agnes Kelly Robertson


Agnes Kelly Robertson was born in Edinburgh and became a popular actress on the American stage.

Early years

Robertson was the ward of Charles Kean, and the juvenile lead in his theatre company. There she met the actor and dramatist Dion Boucicault, a collaborator of Kean's. In 1853, she and Boucicault left for America without Kean's permission and married in New York, creating a scandal.

Career

In America Robertson made her debut in 1853 as Maria in Boucicault's The Young Actress. She also acted in Jessie Brown; or, The Siege of Lucknow, The Octoroon, and The Colleen Bawn. She was billed as The Pocket Venus. Three photographic portraits of Robertson are held in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Family

Robertson became Boucicault's second wife in 1853 and divorced him on 21 June 1888 by reason of "bigamy with adultery" after it was discovered that he had married another woman, Louise Thorndyke, bigamously. During the time of their marriage, they had 6 children: Dion William; Eva Boucicault; Darley George Boucicault, later known as Dion Boucicault the Younger ; Patrice Boucicault; Nina Boucicault ; and Aubrey Boucicault.