GRIMALDI, JOSEPH most celebrated of English clowns, was born in London on Dec. 18, 1779, the son of an Italian actor. When less than two years old he was brought upon Drury Lane stage; at the age of three he appeared at Sad ler's Wells; and he did not retire until 1828. As the clown of pantomime he was considered without an equal, his greatest suc cess being in Mother Goose, at Covent Garden (18o6 and often revived) . Grimaldi died on May 31, 1 83 7. His Memoirs ( 2 vols., 1838), were edited by Charles Dickens.