Frederick August Vining (4 November 1790 – 2 June 1871) was an English actor. His first appearance on the stage was at Gravesend, after which he worked at provincial theatres at Bath and Norwich.^[1] He went on to perform in London and was manager of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket.^[2]: 260 He enjoyed considerable repute in his heyday^[3] and was included in a collection of brief biographies of the principal actors and actresses of the British stage published in 1824 by Sherwood, Jones & Co.^[2]

Family

He was the son of Charles Vining, a silversmith in Kirby Street, Hatton Garden, and was born in London in 1790.^[1] The actor George Vining was Frederick's nephew. They were part of an extensive family of actors.^[3]

Career

His first appearance was at the age of sixteen. He played Young Norval in the play Douglas at the Theatre Royal, Gravesend.^[2]: 259

He died in Camberwell and is buried in West Norwood Cemetery.^[4] In an obituary published in the Birmingham Daily Gazette he was described as having the skill and gallant bearing which "gave evidence of the good training which characterised the comedian of the old school" which he exhibited up to his last engagement at the Olympic Theatre at the beginning of the 1860s, after which he suffered from reduced mental capacity, being cared for in a private asylum for the last years of his life.^[3][5]

Garotte attack

In June 1867 he was the victim, with others, of what was termed 'a garotte attack', from which he recovered. The circumstances were not reported by the press, and are unknown;^[6] however, robbery by clutching of the throat was then a widely-feared risk in London.^[7]