Author: Clara Sicard
Author: Clara Sicard (1818–1876)
Alternate Name(s): Clara Eliza Margaret Corbyn (maiden name); Whitley (married name?); Clara Seyton (stage name)
Biography: Clara Sicard was born Clara Eliza Margaret Corbyn in 1818 in Charmouth, Dorset, the daughter of Royal Navy Commander Joseph Corbyn (died 1850) and his wife Clara. From an earlier age, Sicard showed musical talent and affinity for languages. By the 1840s, she was performing in public, teaching music, and lecturing on literary topics (especially Shakespeare). Sicard has some success on stage and toured England several times, even acquiring royal patronage. She also contributed to periodicals as an author and translator. She adopted the stage name "Clara Seyton" for a time. Her married life is hard to trace: she married at least once before marrying teacher Alfred V. Sicard but the relationship appears short-lived. Prior to this union, she had a daughter Florence who followed her mother on stage (they even performed together). Sicard's last years were marred by poor health and she died of cancer on 5 September 1876 in London.
Author Tags:
References: Boase; British Census (1861, 1871); Courier and West-End Advertiser (9 September 1876)
Fiction Titles:
- The Ghost: A Legend. 1 vol. London: C. H. Clarke, 1866.