William Mountfort

Born around 1664, he was an English actor and dramatic writer, the son of a Staffordshire gentleman. Sources agree that he appeared with the Dorset Garden company while still young, and by the early 1680s he was already taking prominent parts on the London stage, especially elegant leading roles.

Alongside acting, he wrote plays, prologues, and epilogues, building a reputation in Restoration theatre both as a performer and as a writer. He is also noted as the husband of the actress Susanna Percival.

His life ended violently in December 1692, after an attack linked to an attempted abduction of the actress Anne Bracegirdle. That dramatic ending helped fix his name in theatre history, but his importance also rests on the success he achieved on the Restoration stage.