Alexandre Bussart Placide (1750 - 1812)

Born 1750 in Paris, France

Husband of Charlotte Sophia (Wrighten) LaFolle — married 1 Aug 1797 in Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 26 Jul 1812 at about age 62 in 109 Chambers St, Manhattan, New York City, NY

Biography

Alexandre Placide, actor, dancer, acrobat, and pantomime artist was born in France in 1750. The son of travelling acrobats, Placide studied dance in Paris, had his first theatrical success as a tightrope walker at the court of Louis XVI, and toured Europe with his acrobat troupe. He migrated to America in 1791 and played in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, before settling in Charleston, South Carolina. Manager of the French Theatre (Church Street) 1794-1800.

At a benefit for the victims of Charleston’s great fire in June 1796, Placide met sixteen year old Charlotte Wrighten, daughter of English actress Mary Ann Wrighten, performing in Charleston with her twin daughters.

Married, on Monday forenoon, by the Rev. Mr. Coste, Mr. Alexander Placide to Miss Charlotte Sophia Wrighten. (Wednesday, August 3, 1796.)

Charlotte eloped with Placide and they were married 1 August 1796. Charlotte's mother, nee Matthews and widow of actor James Wrighten, died less than a fortnight later, on the 12 August. Alexandre joined the English theatre, learning English dramatic roles and become manager in 1798.

Alexander Placide in Charleston, SC 1800 census. 20|-|1|1|-|2|-|1|-|-|-|2 Manager Charleston Theatre (Broad and New Streets) 1805-1812.

During their sixteen-year marriage, Alexander and Charlotte had five children; Caroline was born April 1798; Henry in Sep 1799; Jane in 1804; Thomas in 1804; Eliza died in 1874.

On December 26, 1811 the theatre caught fire during the middle of a performance. Over six hundred people had gathered to see a translation of Diderot drama The Father, or Family Feuds. Seventy-two people died when fire spread from a burning chandelier to some scenery stored over the stage to a new pine roof on the wooden building. The dead included Governor George William Smith and the translators wife and son.

Placide died less than a year later on 26 July 1812. Sons Henry & Thomas and daughter Jane found success on the southern stage and daughter Caroline married actor William Rufus Blake.

Charlotte married violinist W La Folle. She died 26 Jan 1823.

Sources

• "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F69N-GYH : 2 June 2020), Alexander Placide, 26 Jul 1812; citing Death, Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 447,544.

http://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-Placide

Notable American Women, 1607-1950: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume 1 edited by Edward T. James, Janet Wilson James, Paul S. Boyer