Clive (Raftor), Catherine (Kitty) (1711–85), comic actress, singer, and writer, was probably born in London on 5 November 1711. Her father, William Raftor or Rafter, was a Kilkenny-born lawyer, who lost his claim on a large estate following his support of James II (qv). He left Ireland for a period of exile in France, before marrying and settling in London. Her mother, formerly a Mrs Daniels of Fishstreethill, London, provided Raftor with a sizeable fortune. Records are unclear, but Catherine was one of a large family and her brother James also became an actor; a sister was known later as Mrs Metyver. She received little education, and her career began with her first appearing as a page in boy's clothes. Chetwood (qv) spoke of her ‘rare and early genius for the stage’, and how she herself recalled being so taken with the great Wilks that she ‘tagged after him’ in the street with Miss Johnson, later the wife of Theo Cibber (Chetwood, 127).
Her excellent singing voice, vivacious personality and comic talent brought her to the attention of the English actor and theatre manager Colley Cibber (1671–1757), who engaged her at Drury Lane in 1728. Having made a good impression in her first season, she rapidly established herself as a favourite with London audiences. In 1733 she married George Clive, a barrister. The marriage was not a success and they separated in 1735, after which she appears to have avoided entering into any relationships. She remained almost exclusively with Drury Lane until her retirement in 1769, but notable exceptions included her two-year period in Covent Garden (1743–5), a summer in Dublin's Aungier Street theatre in 1741 and isolated benefit performances in other theatres. Notorious for her sarcasm and temper, she was also well known for her generosity, particularly to her family, whom she assisted financially for many years. Her most popular roles included Nell in ‘The devil to pay’ (C. Coffey), Polly in ‘The beggar's opera’ and Lady Wishfort in Congreve's ‘The way of the world’. Her portrayal of Portia, first given in 1741, in which she mimicked prominent lawyers of the day, was infamous. Henry Fielding wrote several parts for her, among them Lappet in ‘The miser’, and G. F. Handel (qv), who greatly admired her voice, chose her to sing Delilah in the first production of his oratorio Samson (1743).
Clive also turned her hand to writing. In The case of Mrs Clive submitted to the publick (1744) she accused the managers of Drury Lane and Covent Garden of operating a cartel to lower performers’ salaries. Of her dramatic sketches, ‘The rehearsal’ (1750) proved the most popular and was the only one to be published. Other works included ‘Everywoman in her humour’ (1760), ‘Sketch of a fine lady returning from a rout’ (1763) and ‘The faithful Irishwoman’ (1765). Her great friend Horace Walpole presented her with her home in Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, where she and her devoted brother James regularly entertained. She died there 6 December 1785 after a brief illness, and was buried in Twickenham churchyard. There are numerous portraits of her by various artists, including Van Haacken, one attributed to Hogarth (Garrick Club, London), and another in the NGI, attributed to J. Richardson.