David Garrick

Garrick was a pupil at Johnson’s academy in Lichfield, before mentor and friend went to London together. He joined Johnson and Reynolds’ Literary Club, elected on sufferance with Boswell; Goldsmith was a fellow-member. He had a long, easy but never intimate friendship with Sterne. Goldsmith and Hume were guests when he hosted a supper for Rousseau. Adam improved Garrick’s house and designed a new facade for the Theatre Royal. Diderot and Grimm met him at d’Holbach’s; Grimm said he was the only actor to meet the imagination’s demands.