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in parish of St. Paul's, Covent Garden - "The Actors' Church"
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Now going by "Lydia," the 14-year-old dancer leaves home to be in the dancing chorus (corps de ballet) here
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Though the performnace itself was dismissed, her portrayal of famous dancer Senora Perea Nena caught the attention of The Times, and she began to be reconized by critics and theatre-makers elsewhere.
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Gains recognition on the international stage for her dancing, charm, and character
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The Times refers to Lydia as "one of the most eminent of English dancers."
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Marries riding master John Christian Tilbury and gives birth to daughter Agnes Lydia
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Lydia meets theatre manager Alexander Henderson (1828-1886) when she comes to star in a show at the New Theatre Royal, Birkenhead
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John Christian Tilbury is killed in a steeplechase
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At the opening of the new Theatre Royal, Lydia Thompson creates the starring role in Ixion, a mythological spoof with women in men's roles--therefore showing their legs by wearing men's pants and "revealing" tights!
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Marries Alexander Henderson
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with husband Alexander Henderson and a group of British burlesque and pantomime actresses, dancers, and comedians. This Troupe will become known as the British Blondes.
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Lydia and the British Blondes become New York's biggest theatrical sensation of the season, performing the burlesques Ixion (the first hit), The Forty Thieves, and Sinbad for an unprecedented run of 40 weeks.
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Famous American actress and feminist Olive Logan delivers a speech to the American Equal Rights Association, impuning Lydia and the British Blondes for being so risque and provocative/demeaning onstage.
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Lydia and the Blondes go on tour across the country, performing various burlesques and other performances in their repertoire.
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Lydia, her husband, her publicist, and a fellow Blonde are arrested for horsewhipping Stoney at gunpoint, for which they pled guilty and were fined. Stoney was the owner of the Chicago Times and had written critiques reflecting on and insulting the virtue of her and her dancers
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Having been onstage now for over three decades, Lydia's singing and dancing skills are diminishing. She will go back and forth between England and America for the next 20 years, stepping into straight roles as well as a short-lived venture as a producer.
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Alexander Henderson purchases the Folly Theatre, which becomes a burlesque house with Lydia in the lead roles, including Bluebeard.
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Lydia and Alexander Henderson separate but continue to work together until his death.
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Lydia comes out of retirement to portray Mrs. Kingfisher in Dust
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Lydia played a supporting role in The Crust of Society as her last American appearance.
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A Benefit night is held for Lydia at the Lyceum Theatre, where she was performing in The Wedding March
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which is her portrayal of the Duchess du Albuquerque in A Queen's Romance
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in London
