Born William Henry Barrett an English manager, actor, and playwright.
With his company, Barrett is credited with attracting the largest crowds of English theatregoers ever because of his success with melodrama, an instance being his production of The Silver King (1882) at the Princess's Theatre of London.
The historical tragedy The Sign of the Cross (1895) was Barrett's most successful play, both in England and in the United States.
(Wilson Barrett (William Henry Barrett Image by Alexander Bassano 1882
NPG x96385 © National Portrait Gallery, London)