Mary Ann Costello

Mary Ann Costello (1747 – 10 March 1827) was an Irish actress and the mother of British Prime Minister George Canning. She was born in Ireland in 1747 to Jordan Costello, a squire from Connacht. Following the early death of her parents, she was orphaned and raised in London by her maternal grandfather, Colonel Guydickens.

In 1768, Costello married George Canning in a union described as a love match. The marriage produced at least three children: a daughter named Letitia, born in early 1769, who died a few months later; her son George Canning, born on 22 April 1770; and a son named Thomas. By 1771, Costello was widowed and was pregnant with another child while lacking financial support. Her third child, Thomas, died in infancy.

To support her family, Costello embarked on an acting career, making her debut in the role of Jane Shore at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in November 1773. Her initial performance was unsuccessful, leading her to perform in regional theatres across western and northern England. During this period, she engaged in a six-year relationship with Samuel Reddish, with whom she had five children, including two sets of twins. She referred to herself as Mrs Reddish, although there is no record of a formal marriage to him.

Her eldest son, George Canning, was removed from her care and sent to live with his uncle, Stratford Canning. She did not see him for eight years. In February 1783, Costello married Richard Hunn, a silk mercer from Plymouth, with whom she had five additional children, including two more sets of twins. Her acting career continued to stir controversy; notably, her son George, at age 12, was told that his mother's profession rendered her unfit for respectable society. Canning later sought to assist his mother financially, including sending her 100 guineas in June 1791 and warning her that her acting career could harm his political prospects.

Costello's marriage to Richard Hunn ended in the 1790s, and she subsequently retired from the stage. She attempted to generate income through selling an eye ointment called Collysium, which was unsuccessful, and also authored a novel titled "The Offspring of Fancy." Her relationship with her son George remained distant during his rise in politics.

In 1803, she received an annual pension of £500, enabling her to enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle. In 1804, she finally met George Canning's wife and children, four years after their marriage. During Canning’s tenure as Prime Minister in the 1820s, her background was publicly used against him, with claims that her acting career and private life disqualified him from high political office. The Whig politician Lord Grey stated that being the son of an actress disqualified Canning from serving as Prime Minister.

Mary Ann Costello died on 10 March 1827 at Henrietta Street, Bath.