Alice Chapin

Alice Chapin or Alice Ferris (August 28, 1857 – July 5, 1934) was an American actress, playwright and suffragette active in England. She returned to America and played roles in silent films. Life Chapin was born in Keene, New Hampshire to Ephraim Atlas Chapin, who had interests in the railroad, and to Josephine, née Clark. Alice had an elder brother Alfred, who was elected as a Democrat to the 52nd United States Congress. After 1868, she moved to Brooklyn, where she was successful in amateur dramatics, and her brother became a successful politician and lawyer. She made an unsuccessful marriage with a realtor, and her name was briefly Ellis until she obtained a divorce in June 1888. She had a son, Harold Chapin, and she moved to England taking with her a large inheritance from her mother. In England, she had a daughter, Elsie Chapin. In London, her life involved professional acting. She appeared in important productions, including one The Websters, with her son Harold and his wife-to-be Calypso Valetta, at the Royalty Theatre. On a political basis, she was an active member of the Actresses' Franchise League. The league included many notable actresses among its members, and with their help, the League produced suffrage plays. Chapin wrote and adapted some of the plays.