Reynolds and Sheridan were close friends, and fellow-members of Johnson’s literary club (Johnson’s pension was partly due to Sheridan’s father’s intervention); as a frequent absentee, Sheridan often had fines to pay. Sheridan bought out the aging Garrick’s stake in the Theatre Royal, and took over its management from him (Garrick had earlier turned down his first play). He rewrote a part for Kelly, supported his friend Godwin by staging his radical work, encouraged Burney, paying her elaborate compliments, and befriended the young Byron, who was devoted to him, even when Sheridan was drunk and insensible.