Maria Smith (actress)

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Maria Smith (born Maria Harris), also known as Mrs Smith, was a British stage actress in the late 18th century. She married the composer Theodore Smith and may have been trained by him. She performed on stage as Mrs Smith. Her debut was on 20 October 1772 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and she remained with the company until she retired in 1796. In the early years the company was led by David Garrick, with later management under Richard Brinsley Sheridan. In 1776 she had a son, but soon ran away with Mr Bishop, who paid her husband to stay quiet as he planned to marry her.