Alfred Dampier

Alfred Dampier (28 February 1843? – 23 May 1908) was an English-born actor-manager and playwright, active in Australia.

Dampier was born in Horsham, Sussex, England, the son of John Dampier, a builder, and his wife Mary, née Daly.

His first role was as Mephistopheles in his own adaptation of Goethe's Faust, followed by leading roles in Shakespearean dramas. After three years he undertook his own management and toured major towns in Australia and New Zealand, followed by America and England. and The Miner's Right (1891).

The two roles with which Dampier was most associated were Jean Valjean in Valjean, an adaptation of Les Misérables, and Captain Starlight in Robbery Under Arms.

He wrote (as "Adam Pierre") the jingoistic Briton and Boer, which was a "hit" at the Alexandra in 1900.

The Popular Australian Dramatic Company (1889–1890) and Australian Dramatic Company (1890–1897), not to be confused with George Darrell's "Australian Dramatic Company" (1878–1888), were affiliated with the Holloway company.

Dampier died at his residence in Paddington, Sydney on 23 May 1908. She died from a stroke in Reading, Pennsylvania while touring America with her daughter Rose and son Fred. They had two daughters and one son. Alfred Julian "Fred" Dampier was also an actor, but never as successful as his father, sisters or brother in law. Fred had a secret marriage to one Vera (born c. 1885), also an actor, in 1905. They never lived together and she was granted a divorce in 1914.

Select writing credits Valjean (1869) – adaptation of Les Misérables Faust and Marguerite (1873) – adapted from the legends Saint or Sinner (1876) Uncle Tom's Cabin (1879) - adapted from the novel The Nihilists (1880) Under the Southern Cross (1885) Uncle Tom's Cabin (1886) – with John F Sheridan, adapted from the novel Our Emily (1886) An English Lass (1886) Jess (1886) For the Term of His Natural Life (1886) – with Thomas Somers, adapted from the novel – later filmed as The Life of Rufus Dawes (1911) Marvellous Melbourne (1886) – with J H Wrangham and Thomas Somers Shamus O'Brien (play) (1889) East Lynn (1889) The Count of Monte Cristo (1890) – with Garnet Walch, adapted from the novel Robbery Under Arms (1890) – with Garnet Walch, adapted from the novel the novel – filmed as Captain Starlight, or Gentleman of the Road in 1911 For Love and Life (1890) The Miner's Right (1891) The Scout (1891) - later revised as The Trapper This Great City (1891) Wilful Murder (play) (1892) Help One Another (1892) Slaves of Sydney Thou Shalt Not Steal (1896) To the West (play) (1896) The Bush King (1901) – rewrite of 1893 play – filmed in 1911 Fortune's Fool

Other plays presented The Life and Death of Captain Cook The Duchess of Coolgardie