Thomas Wignell

Thomas Wignell (1753 – 21 February 1803) was an English-born actor and theatre manager in the colonial United States.

Early years Thomas Wignell was born into a working theatre family. He was born in England to his parents John and Henrietta Wignell in 1753. His father John Wignell worked at Covent Garden Theatre. His first appearance was at The Covent Garden in 1766 where he played Prince Arthur in King John. He was originally apprenticed as a seal cutter but eventually left to become an actor. With Wignell in the title role, this sketch was a spin-off of O'Keefe's The Poor Soldier.

After separating from the American Company in 1793, Wignell teamed up with Alexander Reinagle and began to fund the building of a new theatre. Reinagle, a prominent musician at the time, started a fund-raising campaign to build this first class theatre located west of sixth and Chestnut Street to be named The Chestnut Theatre. Georgina George appeared there in 1794 in "Robin Hood". She was a leading singer and she had been recruited in London the year before. She appeared as "Mrs Oldmixon". The founding of the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia created opportunities for many new plays to take off.

Philadelphia became a capital for American theatre for many years. The Chestnut Street Theatre became Philadelphia's main playhouse and the first American theatre to be lit by gas. In the early 19th century, this theatre was where "many of the most important American plays…received their world premieres".

Later years In Wignell's later years he stopped acting and devoted his time to managing a number of different theatres. While back in London, Wignell recruited the popular female actress Ann Brunton Merry, who was popular at Covent Garden until her marriage and retirement from the London stage. They came to America in 1796, her husband Robert Merry died on 24 December 1798. She married Wignell on 1 January 1803. Their marriage was short lived, unfortunately because Wignell died about seven weeks after the marriage due to an infected arm. The city of Philadelphia then gave him an excellent burial at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter.