Macready, William Charles

mak-re'di, William Charles (1793-1873), a celebrated English actor. He received his early training in a theater at Birmingham of which his father was the manager. He appeared at Covent Garden Theater, London, in 1816. His early competitors were Kean, Young, and Kemble. He became the manager of the Covent Garden Theater, and in 1841 he took charge of Drury Lane Theater. He toured the large cities of Great Britain and appeared in France. He made several visits to America. While playing in the Astor Place Opera House, May 10, 1849, a riot was precipitated by the adherents of Edwin Forest, a rival American actor. The disturbance was quelled by the militia. Twenty-two persons were killed and many injured. Macready's favorite characters were Macbeth, King Lear, Iago, Virginius, and Richelieu.