Booth, Junius Brutus, 1796-1852

Booth, known as the leading actor of the English theater in his day, settled in the U.S. in 1821. He was the father of a celebrated acting family which included Edwin, Junius Brutus, and John Wilkes Booth. In 1833 Booth signed a contract with actor-manager Thomas Hamblin for a series of performances in Richmond. Soon after the performances started, Booth was suddenly called home by the illness of one of his children. The child and two others soon died, sending Booth into one of his perodic attacks of insanity. Hamblin, unaware of the reason for Booth's departure, closed the theater and sued Booth for breach of contract.

Actor.

Booth, known as the leading actor of the English stage in his day, settled in the U.S. in 1821. He was the father of a celebrated acting family which included Edwin, Junius Brutus, and John Wilkes Booth. In 1830 Booth starred in the premier of Sertorius, a play by Brown, who was also a prominent Philadelphia lawyer.