The Richmond Theatre Fire - Alexander Placide's Benefit Goes Down in Flames
Alexander Placide was an actor in Early America whose benefit performance led to one of the most tragic events in the the history of Richmond, Virginia.
Alexander Placide
Alexander Placide was born in France to a family of entertainers.
Placide grew up and followed in their footsteps, becoming an adept ballet dancer, actor and acrobat (specializing in tightrope walks).
Alexander spent his early career traveling Europe, including a five year stint in London where one of his performances was witnessed by American Diplomat John Adams.
America
Placide journeyed to the Caribbean for a few years but when the French Revolution began he decided to move to the United States, arriving in 1791.
Alexander spent two years performing in all the young nation’s major cities before settling in Charleston, South Carolina.
For the better part of two decades he served as the leading figure in entertainment for his adopted city, overseeing Charleston’s major theatre and making it a hub for stage acting for most of the following century.
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The Richmond Theatre Fire
By 1811, Placide’s health was failing and he went to Richmond, Virginia where a benefit was held in his honor.
After being delayed for three days (due to the death of his friend and fellow actor Eliza Poe, mother of Edgar Allen Poe) the play was staged the day after Christmas.
Tragedy struck when one of the children who moved stage pieces raised a chandelier. The candle holder became stuck and the boy tried to shake it loose which led to other set pieces and the ceiling catching fire.
By the time someone ran onstage to alert the audience it was too late.
From the crowd of 600 people, 72 were killed in the blaze.
Fallout
The Richmond Theatre Fire was an extreme blow to the community of less than 10,000 citizens.
Additionally, it was a major setback for the Capital of the most powerful State in the Union right before the outbreak of the War of 1812.
Many major political figures of the day were at the blaze, several of them killed.
As for Alexander Placide, he survived the fire and traveled to New York City where he passed away just a few months later.
All of his children would follow into the entertainment profession, with his daughter Jane Placide becoming one of the most famous actresses of the 19th century.
Do you want to learn about another tragic fire during America’s Founding?
Check out this article:
The 1776 Burning of New York City
The Richmond Theatre Fire was a major disaster during the American Founding.
For a full account of this tragic tale, check out ‘Early America’s First Great Disaster.’
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