John Kane (actor)

John Kane (born 1746 in Ireland; died 1799 in Buxton, Derbyshire) was an eighteenth-century actor and comedian of considerable distinction who met with an untimely death in 1799, involving the poisonous plant hemlock (the philosopher Socrates being the most famous victim of such a death).

Like the majority of his profession at the time, he moved around the country performing and spent a lot of his time in England. It was while fulfilling an engagement at the Opera House in Buxton that he died.

His grave can be seen at the rear of St. Anne’s churchyard in Buxton and, because of the interesting tale of his death, the gravestone has become a listed monument.

His grave is listed on [http://www.youandyesterday.co.uk/articles/Grave_Matters_-_Who_is_buried_where_in_Derbyshire%3F Grave Matters] , a project which aims to record the location of unusual or 'celebrity' graves in Derbyshire.

External links

* [http://www.youandyesterday.co.uk/articles/Kane%2C_John_-_R.I.P._in_Buxton_-_Comedian_ate_himself_to_death%21 John Kane: R.I.P. in Buxton - Comedian 'Ate Himself To Death']