Leah Sumbel

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LS , an actress of the later eighteenth century, became a remarkable memoirist as well as a journalist and a dabbler in writing for the stage. Her account of her life may be grouped with courtesan-memoirs or with theatrical memoirs.
Photo of a full-length painting of Leah Sumbel by Samuel de Wilde, performing (under her original name, Mary Wells) as Anne Lovely in Susannah Centlivre's "A Bold Stroke for a Wife". She stands on stage, wearing a long, plain grey dress laced up the bodice, its square neckline filled with a fichu, Her hair is powdered under a tall mob cap with a blue ribbon, and she holds a paper in her hands.

Milestones

16 December 1762

Mary Stephens Davies (who later acted as Mary Wells and later again as a memoirist called herself LS ) was born in Birmingham.
Highfill, Philip H. et al. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800. Southern Illinois University Press.

15 April 1785

The Fool, a farce by Edward Topham , lover of Mary Wells (later LS ), had some help from her in its writing.
The London Stage 1660-1800. Southern Illinois University Press.
5: 787

August 1792

Mary Wells (later LS ), at Brighton, publicly announced her intention of publishing her Memoirs, by subscription, in four volumes.
Highfill, Philip H. et al. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800. Southern Illinois University Press.

By 1799

LS , divorced from her second husband , was working seriously on the account which became her Memoirs.
Sumbel, Leah. Memoirs. C. Chapple.

September 1811

LS published her scandalous Memoirs of the Life of Mrs. Sumbel, late Wells . . . Written by Herself. Including Her Correspondence with Major Topham , Mr. Reynolds , &c ., a life-story dedicated to her grandchildren and her brother-in-law .
Sumbel, Leah. Memoirs. C. Chapple.
title-page, xv

1812

LS was granted a licence for a play and entertainment (not identified) to be performed at the Haymarket . Nothing more, however, was heard of it.
Highfill, Philip H. et al. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800. Southern Illinois University Press.

23 January 1829

LS died in London, in her sixties.
Highfill, Philip H. et al. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800. Southern Illinois University Press.

Biography

She took the name of Leah when she married for the second time and converted to Judaism, breaking with her stage identity of Mary Wells. When she came to publish her Memoirs, although she was by then a Christian once more, she published as Mrs. Sumbel, late Wells (or Mrs. S., late Wells in some copies).

Birth and Family

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