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Rh thick and low, and his actions ungainly; but against all these disadvantages he struggled, and achieved so great success.

was honourably descended, and received his education at Westminster. His first predilection for the stage was excited by the applause he received, when a Westminster scholar, on acting Pamphilus, in the "Andrea" of Terence. The inclination ripened into a passion, and when at Cambridge, he boldly defied all consequences, and ran off with a company of strolling players. The distress of his family on hearing of his misconduct was excessive. His mother was attacked with fever, his father became almost frenzied, but all was forgotten when the scapegrace returned home hungry and wet, without money and without clothes. The ill success of his first adventure, however, failed to damp his ardour. He again decamped, appeared on a stage in Bartholomew Fair, and then went over to try his fortune in Ireland. At Dublin, the first character he attempted was Oronooko, and he was well received, though a ludicrous incident moved the audience to laughter when they ought to have been melted into tears. The evening was warm. Booth, forgetful of his blackened face, wiped himself with his handkerchief; and with his visage most grotesquely streaked, returned to the stage, and was astounded at the roar that greeted his re-appearance. He remained in Ireland two years; and his success and pertinacity induced his friends to relent in their opposition to his choice. About 1701, he returned to London, and was introduced to Betterton; and when his former schoolfellow Rowe brought out his "Ambitious step-mother," Booth played the part of Artaban.

He now progressed rapidly, was soon esteemed only inferior to Betterton, and when that great actor died,