Garrick, David 1717-79
English actor, theatre manager and playwright

He was born in Hereford and educated at Lichfield Grammar School. In 1736 he was sent to study Latin and Greek under Dr Johnson at Edial, and in 1737 he set off for London to study law, but became a wine merchant with his eldest brother (1738-40). He then turned to the stage. His first play was performed at Drury Lane in 1740 and in 1741 he made his successful debut as an actor at Ipswich, as Aboan in Thomas Southerne's Oroonoko. The same year he appeared in London at Goodman's Fields, where his success as Richard III was so great that within a few weeks the two patent theatres were deserted, and crowds flocked to the unfashionable East End playhouse. When Goodman's Fields closed, he played at both Drury Lane and Covent Garden, but ultimately settled at Drury Lane, of which he became joint-manager (1747), and from where he dominated the English stage for 30 years. He played continually, his only long rest being a trip to Europe (1763-65), when he thought his popularity was in danger of diminishing. He married Eva Marie Violetti (1724-1822), a Viennese dancer (1749). He was buried in Westminster Abbey, London.

Bibliography: George W Stone, Jnr and George M Kahrl, David Garrick (1979)