J.A. Rouvière

(17**-18**) A watchmaker and dealer in French goods, and one of the leading members of the French cultural movement in the Cape in the early 19th century. He possibly arrived and settled in Cape Town some time after 1807, and soon became an informed member of the cultural elite in Cape Town, apparently knowing everyone and everything. He was a friend of C.E. Boniface and went on to become a strong supporter of Dutch aspirations and Dutch theatre. In his case he appears to have created something of a theatrical dynasty, with the names C.A Rouvière, L.A. Rouvière and J.P. Rouvière featuring as dancers and performers in Dutch productions circa 1825.

His own name first appears as actor as early as 1809, related to a French production by C.E. Boniface (Les Plaideurs by Racine and Le Derviche by De Saint-Foix, 22 February, 1809).

His shop at 38 Hout Street (sometimes listed as 33 Loop Street) also served as a ticket office for theatre productions, inter alia those of Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense.

He (and his family?) seemingly left the Cape in August 1826, because of his wife's ill-health, and settled in the Karoo town of Graaff- Reinet.