ABSTRACT
Within six months after his London debut, Garrick had become a celebrity. He counted among his close friends aristocrats, leading politicians, judges, and artists. His fame extended to Europe and North America. His childless but happy and sociable marriage to a Viennese dancer, the protégée of the Earl of Burlington, opened more doors to him. Garrick became a member of the Literary Club, founded by Sir Joshua Reynolds and Dr. Samuel Johnson. Though, by all accounts never untrue to his wife, he liked to flirt with women; and his warm personality endeared him to children. Besides his home near the theatre district in London, he owned a villa at Hampton on the banks of the Thames where he built a temple in honor of Shakespeare.
