LEMAITRE, FREDE:RIC, 1798-1876; b. France; the son of professional actors. He studied for the stage at the eonservatoire of Paris, and had the advantage of the sympathy and aid of the great Talma. His first appearance was made at the Odeon, but it was not until some time after that occasion, in 1826, that he became a member of the Odeon company. lie did not remain permanently engaged in any thdater, his taste and habit of mind leading bin into a wandering life, and appeared sometimes at the Ambigu, sometimes at the Porte Saint-Martin, as occasion offered. It was in 1832 that he created the character of "Robert Macaire," in which he won immortal renown, being 'oint author of the play as well as the originator of the title rile. lIe made a tour ol England in 1835, achieving a marked success. his performance of the Reny Bias of Victor Hugo became another of his triumphs, and this was followed by that of Don Callar de Pusan, which he produced at the; Porte Saint-Martin with the result of nearly occasioning an entente, for some reason, between the people and the police, troops hav ing to be summoned and the theater closed for three days. At the outbreak in Paris of
the revolution of 1848, Lemmtitre astounded the audience of the Porte Saint-Martin by rushing to the front of the stage, half-dressed, with a gun in his hand, and urging those in front of him to join their fellows in the street and " play a citizen-like part in the great drama, time epilogue of which must be the apotheosis of the people." In 1868, after a number of years of absolute retirement, from the stage on account of the cteath of his eldest son, Lemaitre made a reappearance at the age of 70 years. This actor achieved his greatest reputation in strong character-parts, the mobility of his features, and the skill with which he grasped and elucidated marked and original traits, rendering him exceptionally qualified for this kind of personification.