BETTY, WILLIAM HENRY WEST Eng lish boy actor, known as "the young Roscius," was born on Sept. 13, 1791, at Shrewsbury. He first appeared on the stage at Bel fast before he was twelve in an English version of Voltaire's Zaire. He afterwards played with success in Dublin, Glasgow and Edinburgh. In 1804 he first appeared at Covent Garden, when the troops had to be called out to preserve order, so great was the crush to obtain admittance. At Drury Lane he played for the unprecedented salary of over 75 guineas a night. George III. presented him to the queen, and Pitt on one occasion ad journed the House of Commons that members might be in time for his performance. In i8o8 he made his final appearance as a boy actor, and entered Christ's college, Cambridge. He reappeared four years later, but the public would have none of him. He died in 1874. His son Henry Betty (1819-97) was also an actor.