MACREADY, WiLmAm CHARLES, an English tragedian, whose father was a manager of provincial eotnpany, WfIS b, in London Mar. 3, 1793. educated at Rugby, and made his first appearance as Romeo at Birmingham in 1810. For four years he was connected with his father's company, and for two years thereafter he sustained leading parts in the provinces. In Sept., 1816, he made his first appearance before a London audience, and gained the applause of Kean, who was one of his auditors. His progress in the higher walks of the drama was slow, principally, it is understood, from professional jealousies. Li 1819 he made a hit in the character of Richard III., and he aftenvards adventured on other of Shakespeare's characters with success. In 1826 he made a tour in the United States, and he visited Paris in 1828. He became lessee of Covent Garden theater in 1837, and relinquished it two years thereafter. He afterwards undertook the manage ment of Drury Lane, but gave it up after encountering considerable pecuniary loss. He visited America for a second time in 1843 11; and again in 1848-49, when he barely cscaped with his life from a riot which took place in the theater at New York, caused by the jealousy of Mr. Forrest, an American actor. On his return home he was engaged at the Haymarket, and his theatrical career was brought to a conclusion on Feb. 3,1851. He took his benefit at Drury Lane on the 26th of the same month. Shortly afterwards, a public dinner was given to the great actor, which was attended by 600 guests, and presided over by sir E. L. Bulwer. Macready died April, 1873. Ilfacready's Reminiscences and Selections from his Diaries and Letten appeared in 1875.•
Macready was a fine and impressive actor, but he was more indebted for his success to art than to nature. He succeeded best in the graver characters of the dratna. He inherited more of the stateliness of Kemble than the hre of Kean.
MoREE, WILLIAM, 1788-1832, b. Wilmington, N. C.; graduated at West Point in 1805; entered the army as second lieut. of engineers, and rose by regular promotion to the rank of lieut.col. in 1818. Prior to 1812 he was employed in the survey and con struction of fortifications on the Atlantic coast. In the war, o,f that period with Great Britain he served first as chief of artillery in gen. Hampton's northern army, and later as chief engineer of the army of gen. Brown, winning distinction' in the capture and defense of fort Erie, and in the battles of Chippewa and Niagara, for which he was successively brevetted lieut.col. and col. After the war was over he visited Europe with maj. Thayer, under direction of the government, for professional, observation and the purchase of professional works. After his return, ,in 1816, he was made a member of the board of engineers to which was assigned the duty of preparing a system of defenses for the Atlantic coast. He was engaged in this service until 1819, when the French engineer, gen. Barnard, was appointed " assistant engineer of the United States." Sharing with other officers of his corps the feeling that it was'unjust to overlook the merits aud claims of American officers and appoint a foreigner over them, he resigned. He afterwards rendered valuable service as surveyor-general of Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas. Died in St. Louis.