John Kane

John Kane (1746 in Ireland – 1799 in Buxton, Derbyshire) was an 18th-century actor and comedian of considerable distinction who died in 1799, with his death involving a poisonous plant, perhaps hemlock or Aconitum.Like the majority of his profession at the time, he moved around the country performing and spent a lot of his time in England. It was while fulfilling an engagement at the Opera House in Buxton that he died.According to popular folklore Kane had a large appetite and particularly enjoyed roast beef with horseradish sauce. In 1799 in Buxton, whoever prepared the dish for Kane had accidentally gathered Conium maculatum (the European species of hemlock) instead of wild horseradish.His grave can be seen at the rear of St. Anne’s churchyard in Buxton. Because of his fame during his lifetime and distinction of his having literally eaten himself to death, the gravestone has become a listed monument.His grave is listed on Grave Matters, a project which aims to record the location of unusual or celebrity graves in Derbyshire.

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