BENJAMIN WEBSTER.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2585, 20 July 1882, Page 3

BENJAMIN WEBSTER.

To the own correspondent of the " Argus," dated July 10th, wo are again indebted to hear of the news of tha death of this celebrated comedian. We therefore clip from " Men of the Time" the following history ol his life:—

" Benjamin Webster, comedian, born at Bath, September 3rd, 1800, was educated for the navy. The termination of the war in 1815 oaused a ohange in his intentions, and he studied for the muiical profession, which he exchanged for that of an actor. He made his first appearanoa on the stage at Warwick, whence, in 1825, he was transferred to a metropolitan theatre. His readiness in assuming, at the shortest notieo, the part of Pompey for the late Mr Harley, in ' Measure for Measure,' first gave the public an opportunity of estimating his histrionic powers, and firmly establishing his claim to rank among the leading actors of the day. He assumed the management of the Haymarket in 1837, and his lasaeoship was marked by a liberal patronage of native dramatic talent—BulwerLjtton, Knowle?, Jerrold, and Bajloßernard having written original dramas for his theatre, at wtiioh Macready, Wallaok, Strickland, Farron, Matthews, Miss Fauoit, Mrs Nisbet, Mrs Glover, and Mrs Stirling appeared. Mr Webster paid annually about £2OOO for the copyrights of British plays ; and, on one oooasion, gave £SOO for a prizs oomedy. _ Though this experiment was unsuccessful, it showed his desire to elevate the English stage. The New Adelphi Theatre, which Mr Webster built en the site of the old houre, in 1858, iraa long under his management, and in 1866 he undertook the leßseeship of the Olympic. His nance is necessarily associated with a long list of oharaoters; but his latest, and certainly not bis least suooessful, impersonations are those of Lavater, Tartuffe, Belphegor, and Triplet, and Pierre Lereux, in ' The Poor Strollers.* Mr Webster was formerly President of the new Dramatic College. He ?.-tired from the innuagement'of the Adelphi Theatre iu 1574."