BOOTH, Edwin Thomas, American actor (4th son of Junius Brutus Booth, q.v.) : b. near Belair, Md., 13 Nov. 1833; d. New York, 7 June 1893. His first scholastic instruction was received from Miss Susan Hyde; subse quently, despite a desultory attendance at school he aoctuired a fairly good English education. Early in life he accompanied his father on the latter's theatrical tours and upon Edwin de volved the duty of caring for the health and comfort of the eccentric actor. His early association with theatrical life and his inherited talent drew him toward the stage. Overcom ing his father's opposition, he made his first appearance as Tressel at Boston in 1849, and thereafter appeared in various roles in his father's company. In 1851 the elder Booth was billed in Richard III at the National Theatre, New York, and being suddenly indisposed, his place was successfully assumed by Edwin. In 1852 he went to California with his father to join his brother, J. B. Booth, Jr. He remained some years in California, where his financial success was indifferent. In 1855 he made a successful tour of Australia, New Zealand and the Sandwich Islands, returning to the United States the following year and making a tour of the South. Early in 1857 he scored an im mense success as Sir Giles Overreach in
was at once established. After the assassination of Lincoln by his brother, John Wilkins Booth, he retired temporarily but in 1866, at the urgent solicitation of his friends, he reappeared in New York. In 1869, he married Mary Mc Vicker, who died in 1881. In the loss of the Winter Garden by fire in 1867, Booth lost many articles of value, and all his properties. For two years he traveled to raise money for 'Booth's Theatre," which he erected on 23d street and 6th avenue, New York, at a cost of over $1,000,000. It was opened in 1869 with