American tragedian, born in Philadelphia on the 9th of March 1806; died there on the 12th of December 1872. He made his theatrical début as Douglas in Home’s tragedy of that name, and then made a professional tour through the Western and Southwestern states. In November 1826, he played a star engagement at the New York Bowery Theater, commencing in the character of Othello, which was pronounced a signal success. This was followed by other parts acted with no less ability. He left New York a prominent tragedian and a great favorite, to repeat his dramatic triumph in other cities of the Union. After playing for several years, he visited Europe for recreation and study. He returned to the United States in 1831, and continued playing with unabated attraction until the autumn of 1836, when he again sailed for Europe. His first appearance in England was as Spartacus in the Gladiator, which was followed by Macbeth, Lear and Othello. In London he married a daughter of John Sinclair, the popular Scottish ballad-singer, and in November of the same year began an engagement in Philadelphia. In 1845, in company with his wife, he again visited London and performed at the Princess’s Theatre. Much professional jealousy arose between Forrest and Macready, the favorite tragedian of the British stage, which led to open outbreaks of temper, in consequence of which the American actor lost favor with the British public. In May 1849, when Macready was playing Macbeth at the Astor Place Opera House, New York City, a riot ensued. On this occasion twenty rioters were killed and thirty-six wounded. The actor’s marriage with his English wife proved an unhappy one; divorce suits were brought on both sides, that occupied the courts for several years, and were finally decided in the wife’s favor. In 1853 Forrest performed at the Broadway Theater for several weeks. In 1865 he became gouty, and one of his arms was slightly paralyzed. Forrest’s trip to California in 1866 was unsuccessful. His last theatrical appearance was made at Boston in March, 1871, when he broke down during the engagement. Later, he endeavored to give readings from Shakespeare’s plays, but they failed to attract. He had acquired a large fortune, which was estimated, at his death, as amounting to $1,000,000. He built a mansion in castellated style on the banks of the Hudson, which was a conspicuous object from the river. He also erected an imposing house in Philadelphia. The Hudson mansion became afterward a convent, and the Philadelphia house a school of design. He had collected a library rich in Shakespeariana, which was destroyed by fire soon after his death. His fortune he left chiefly for the purpose of founding a home for poor and indigent members of his own profession.
See Lawrence Barrett’s Edwin Forrest (Boston, 1881).
