Susanna Cibber

Susanna Cibber, actress, is buried in the north cloister of Westminster Abbey. She seems never to have had an inscribed gravestone and there is no memorial to her. She was the daughter of upholsterer Thomas Arne and his second wife Anne (Wheeler). Her brother was the famous composer Thomas Arne. She was baptised at St Paul's church in Covent Garden in London on 28th February 1714. She married in 1734, as his second wife, the actor Theophilus Cibber, son of poet Colley Cibber. Their two children Susanna and Caius Gabriel both died in infancy. She tried to leave her obnoxious husband but he abducted her. Her brother rescued her and Theo was later drowned on route to Dublin. She had a successful career acting with David Garrick. In Dublin she sang in the first performance of Handel's "Messiah". By William Sloper Susanna had two children Susanna Maria (or Molly) and Charles. The latter died aged 8 having been a scholar at Westminster School (although he is not in their alumni) and was buried in the north cloister where his mother was later buried on 6th February 1766.

Further Reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography