Benjamin Nottingham Webster

Benjamin Nottingham Webster (3 September, 1797 - 3 July, 1882) was an English actor, theatre manager and dramatic writer.

Early life

Webster was born in Bath, the son of a dancing master.

Career

First appearing as Harlequin, and then in small parts at Drury Lane, he went to the Haymarket Theatre in 1829, and was given leading comedy character business.

Webster was the lessee of the Haymarket from 1837 to 1853; he built the new Adelphi Theatre (1859); later the Olympic Theatre, Princess's Theatre, London and St James's Theatres came under his control; and he was the patron of all the contemporary playwrights and many of the best actors, who owed their opportunity of success to him.

As a character actor he was unequalled in his day, especially in such parts as Triplet in "Masks and Faces", Joey Ladle in "No Thoroughfare", and John Peerybingle in his own dramatization of "The Cricket on the Hearth".

He wrote, translated or adapted nearly a hundred plays. Webster took his formal farewell of the stage in 1874.

Later life

Webster died in 1882, and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. [http://www.brompton.org/Residents.htm]

Personal life

His daughter, Harriette Georgiana (d. 1897), was the first wife of Edward Levy-Lawson, 1st Baron Burnham.

His son, W.S. Webster, had three children — Benjamin Webster (b. 1864; married to Miss May Whitby), Annie (Mrs A.E. Georga) and Lizzie (Mrs Sydney Brough) — all well known on the London stage, and further connected with it in each case by marriage.

References

* Scott, "The Drama of Yesterday and To-Day" (London, 1899)
* Matthews and Hutton, "Actors and Actresses of Great Gritain and the United States" (New York, 1886)
*1911