William Elton (1 May 1847 – 27 January 1903) was an English comedian, actor and singer, who played in London and New York theatres and had a successful career in Australia, playing comic opera and
pantomime.
History
Billy Elton in The Guv'nor
Elton was born William John Shuttleworth[a] in
Salford, Greater Manchester, son of a surgeon, William Shuttleworth.[2] He was attracted to the theatre while quite young, reportedly appearing at the
Adelphi Theatre, Liverpool, at age 10.[1] He spent some of his school years at
Scotch College, Melbourne,[3]
He had plans to retire to Australia,[9] but never followed up. In later years he suffered greatly from a cancerous tumor, for which he underwent surgery in New York.[3]
He died at
Blackheath, Kent,[1] aged 55. Another authority, which otherwise largely echoes the D'Oyly Carte history, has him dying at his home on Manor Road,
Brockley.[10]
Personal
Elton married Fanny Eliza Lewis in England, on 1 September 1872.[2] Another report has him marrying in Melbourne,[3] but no confirmation has been found. Their children include:
George William Elton (born c. 1875[11]) was a comic actor also, and successful writer for the stage.[12] He toured Australia with the
Hawtrey Comedy Company.[13] On 29 March 1901, in Melbourne, he married Adela Florence Furniss Harrison, adopted daughter of Mrs. Amos Norcott (aka Miss
Ida Osborne).[14]
Fanny Elton, later Fanny Elton Barnard.[15] She may have been the student at Hawksburn College in 1888 who excelled at
elocution[16] and had ambitions as a lady of leisure.[17]
Frank Elton ("still at boarding school" in 1895 so born c. 1880)
^"Mr. William Elton". The Lorgnette. No. 100. Victoria, Australia. 29 November 1890. p. 5. Retrieved 6 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^
ab"Obituary". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXVIII, no. 17, 541. South Australia. 2 February 1903. p. 5. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Princess's Theatre - Dorothy". The Age. No. 10277. Victoria, Australia. 30 January 1888. p. 5. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia. Cellier was conductor on this occasion.
^"A Popular Actor". The Weekly Times. No. 1, 232. Victoria, Australia. 18 March 1893. p. 23. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"On and Off the Stage". Table Talk. No. 500. Victoria, Australia. 25 January 1895. p. 5. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Theatre Royal". The Mercury (Hobart). Vol. LXXVIII, no. 10, 234. Tasmania, Australia. 31 December 1902. p. 5. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Family Notices". The Australasian. Vol. LXX, no. 1827. Victoria, Australia. 6 April 1901. p. 55. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"On and Off the Stage". Table Talk. No. [?]. Victoria, Australia. 5 February 1903. p. 17. Retrieved 5 October 2021 – via National Library of Australia.