David Garrick
David Garrick was born at the Angel Inn on Widemarsh Street in Hereford on the 19th of February 1716. His family traced their roots to French Huguenots who fled Languedoc after the Edict of Nantes revoked Protestant rights in 1685. His grandfather David Garric escaped to London while his father Peter was smuggled out as an infant by a nurse. The family eventually settled in Lichfield, where Garrick spent his childhood while his father served as a recruiting officer stationed in Gibraltar.
At age nineteen, Garrick enrolled in Samuel Johnson's Edial Hall School and showed early enthusiasm for theatre. He appeared in a school production playing Sergeant Kite in George Farquhar's The Recruiting Officer. After Johnson's school closed, the two friends traveled to London together to seek their fortunes. They became partners in a wine business with operations in both London and Lichfield, though Garrick managed only the London side.
The wine venture struggled significantly. Playwright Samuel Foote later remarked that Garrick kept only three quarts of vinegar in his cellar yet still called himself a merchant. By 1740, four years after arriving in London, Garrick attended his first professional play, Lethe: or Aesop in the Shade at Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Within one year he began appearing professionally under stage name Lyddal to avoid family consternation.
On the 19th of October 1741, David Garrick stepped into the title role of Shakespeare's Richard III at Goodman's Fields Theatre. Charles Macklin had coached him in the part just days before this performance. His natural acting style rejected the declamatory conventions dominant during that period and immediately became the talk of London.
Horace Walpole observed that a dozen dukes attended each night at Goodman's Fields to witness the spectacle. Following this rousing reception, Garrick wrote to his brother requesting withdrawal from their wine partnership to devote all time to the stage. He performed eighteen different roles within just six months including Tate's adaptation of King Lear and Pierre in Otway's Venice Preserv'd.
Alexander Pope saw Garrick perform three times during this early period and concluded that no actor would ever equal him. James Quin, an established performer in the old style, remarked that if Garrick was right then they had all been wrong. Charles Fleetwood manager of Drury Lane engaged Garrick for Chaumont in The Orphan on the 11th of May 1742 after seeing his success elsewhere.
Garrick took over management of Theatre Royal Drury Lane in April 1747 alongside partner James Lacy following Fleetwood's patent expiration. The theatre had declined significantly over previous years but their partnership restored its prominence as one of Europe's leading venues. Their first performance opened with an Ode to Drury Lane Theatre read by Garrick and written by Samuel Johnson.
During twenty-nine years of management he reformed audience behavior despite causing some public discontent. Many reforms eventually took hold including stricter rules about conduct during performances. He also standardized production elements like set design costumes and special effects to create overall consistency across shows.
The partnership ended when Garrick retired from management in 1776. His final famous role included Posthumus in Cymbeline performed shortly before stepping away completely. During these decades he balanced artistic integrity with the fickle tastes of paying customers while elevating the profession's reputation significantly.
In September 1769 David Garrick staged the Shakespeare Jubilee in Stratford-upon-Avon celebrating two centuries since William Shakespeare's birth though five years late. The event involved multiple activities held throughout the town to honor the playwright who would become England's national poet. Heavy rain forced cancellation of a planned Shakespeare Pageant which later appeared successfully at Drury Lane under title The Jubilee with ninety performances.
Garrick recognized the Shakespeare Ladies Club during his speech on the second day of events for restoring Shakespeare to stage prominence. No actual Shakespeare plays were performed during the main festival itself. Thomas Arne composed song Soft Flowing Avon with lyrics written by Garrick specifically for this celebration.
This major cultural moment helped cement Shakespeare as England's national poet through emerging movements that celebrated literary heritage. The festival demonstrated how theatrical figures could shape public perception of historical artists and elevate their status within national consciousness.
George Lyttelton told Garrick directly that he never understood acting until seeing Garrick perform. Alexander Pope feared the young man would be spoiled because no competitor could match him. Even James Quin admitted that if Garrick acted correctly then all previous actors had been wrong about their craft.
Theophilus Cibber criticized Garrick in Two Dissertations on the Theatres of 1756 claiming realistic style went too far. Despite such detractors historian Rev Nicolas Tindal summarized Garrick's legacy as establishing modern theatrical performance standards. His influence extended beyond acting to include direction of top English stage actors who adopted similar techniques.
Garrick met German dancer Eva Marie Veigel who emigrated to London in 1746 after performing in opera choruses. They married on the 22nd of June 1749 and remained inseparable throughout nearly thirty years together. William Hogarth painted multiple portraits of the couple including one
Olivier received third such distinction in 1989.
A sculptural memorial by Henry Webber installed on west wall of Poet's Corner in 1797 features poem by Samuel Jackson Pratt. Mrs. Garrick lived until 1822 preserving his legacy through continued residence near their former home. Multiple memorials including Lichfield Cathedral stone medallion bear Johnson's famous comment about his profession making him rich while he made it respectable.
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Common questions
When and where was David Garrick born?
David Garrick was born at the Angel Inn on Widemarsh Street in Hereford on the 19th of February 1716. His family traced their roots to French Huguenots who fled Languedoc after the Edict of Nantes revoked Protestant rights in 1685.
What role did David Garrick play when he made his professional debut?
David Garrick stepped into the title role of Shakespeare's Richard III at Goodman's Fields Theatre on the 19th of October 1741. Charles Macklin had coached him in the part just days before this performance which established his natural acting style as the talk of London.
How long did David Garrick manage Theatre Royal Drury Lane?
David Garrick took over management of Theatre Royal Drury Lane in April 1747 alongside partner James Lacy following Fleetwood's patent expiration. The partnership ended when Garrick retired from management in 1776 after twenty-nine years of leadership that restored the theatre's prominence.
Why is the Shakespeare Jubilee significant to David Garrick's legacy?
In September 1769 David Garrick staged the Shakespeare Jubilee in Stratford-upon-Avon celebrating two centuries since William Shakespeare's birth though five years late. This major cultural moment helped cement Shakespeare as England's national poet through emerging movements that celebrated literary heritage.
Who was David Garrick married to and how many children did they have?
David Garrick met German dancer Eva Marie Veigel who emigrated to London in 1746 after performing in opera choruses. They married on the 22nd of June 1749 and their union produced no children yet remained inseparable throughout nearly thirty years together.