William O'Brien (actor)

[1] David Garrick brought O'Brien over to London from Dublin in 1758 to join his actor's company at Drury Lane.

[2] He eloped with Lady Susannah "Susan" Fox-Strangways, eldest daughter of Stephen Fox, the first Earl of Ilchester, whom he had met when they both performed in amateur theatricals at Holland House.

[3] Their marriage, which took place on 7 April 1764 at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, was disapproved of by Lady Susan's family.

The couple were forced for a time to travel to North America, because of the social scandal caused by their elopement.

The diarist James Boswell described O'Brien as "a lively little fellow, but priggish" and "quite the fine man about town".