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George Alexander Stevens (1710 – 6 September 1780) was anEnglishactor,playwright,poet,composer andsongwriter. He was born in the parish of St. Andrews, inHolborn, a neighbourhood of London. After spending many years as a travelling actor, he performed for the theatre inCovent Garden (now theRoyal Opera House).
Stevens was most famous in his lifetime for hisLecture on Heads, asatirical "lecture" on heads and fashion, which parodied the popularity ofphysiognomy. The lecture was first performed in 1764, and became an immediate success; he went on to perform it on tour throughoutGreat Britain, inIreland, and in the American colonies atBoston andPhiladelphia.
He was also known as popular songwriter, especially known for his bawdy drinking-songs and patriotic songs (such asLiberty-Hall[permanent dead link] andThe Briton[permanent dead link]). Many of both kinds were collected in hisSongs, comic and satyrical (1788).
Stevens also authored several dramatic pieces for the stage, a novel entitledTom Fool, and a satire,The Birthday of Folly. He used the pen-name "A Lady",[1] for part ofThe Female Inquisition.[2]
He died inBaldock inHertfordshire.
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