July 14

Clara Fisher was born this day in 1811, London, England. A child star, Clara Fisher's father enrolled her in acting lessons at age five and yes, by age six she made her stage debut on the Drury Lane Theatre in David Garrick's production of "Lilliput". The audience was "astonished" with the great talent Clara brought to the role of "Lord Flimnap".By her teens she had preformed,"Richard III", "Shylock","Douglas", and "Doctor Pangloss".
Yes, "a child wonder!".
After wowing England, the Fisher family moved to America in 1827. Clara debuted at New York City's "Park Theatre". Clara was the "favorite star" in every city- and "electrified" her audiences with her "Ophelia", "Viola","Cherumbino" and "Susanna".
It created a "Clara Fisher Craze"- folks named their babies, steamboats, hotels, racehorses and many others things- Clara Fisher. Poetry was written about her. A nineteenth century super star!
In 1834, Clara married composer and vocal coach, James Gaspard Maeder. He wrote the
opera, "Peri" or "The Enchanted Fountain" for Clara. Together they opened a theatre in New Orleans and blessed the world with seven children. Clara Fisher was so wealthy she retired early in 1844 and for six years over spent and made bad investments. And so Ms. Fisher returned to the stage in 1850 and worked for another 38 years. Known in her later years as the 'oldest living actress'. Clara Fisher was a working actress for 72 years.