Cowley, Hannah (1743–1809)
Cowley, Hannah (1743–1809)
English dramatist. Name variations: (pseudonym) Anna Matilda. Born Hannah Parkhouse in Devonshire, England, in 1743; died in Devonshire on March 11, 1809; daughter of Philip Parkhouse (a bookseller);married Captain Cowley (in the East India Company's service), around 1768.
Hannah Parkhouse was about 25 when she married Captain Cowley of the East India Company's service. It would be another seven years before the idea of writing occurred to her. While witnessing a theatrical performance, she turned to her husband and groaned, "Why, I could write as well!" Her answer to his laugh of incredulity was the first act of her play The Runaway. She finished writing the entire drama in two weeks and sent the script to David Garrick, who produced it with complete success at Drury Lane in February 1776. During the next 20 years, Cowley wrote a number of plays, one of which, the popular Belle's Strategem (1780), was frequently revived by Henry Irving and Ellen Terry . She also wrote A Bold Stroke for a Husband (1783) and, under the pseudonym Anna Matilda, contributed sentimental verse to the World.