Master Grossmith
{{short description|19th-century English actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox person
|name= William Robert Grossmith
|image=
|image_size=
|caption=
|birth_date= {{Birth year|1818}}
|birth_place= Reading, England
|death_date= {{Death year and age|1899|1818}}
|death_place=
|occupation= Actor and prosthetic Limb manufacturer
|years_active=
|spouse=
}}
William Robert Grossmith, also known as Master Grossmith (1818–1899), was a 19th-century child actor, the eldest son of William Grossmith, who then established a second career as a maker of prosthetic limbs.
Career
Grossmith was known as the 'Infant Roscius' or 'Young Roscius' as he began acting at a very young age. In 1825 a pamphlet was published publicising this prodigy child actor with the title The Life of the Celebrated Infant Roscius, Master Grossmith of Reading, Berks, only seven years and a quarter Old.{{cite book |title=The Life of the Celebrated Infant Roscius Master Grossmith of Reading, Berks, Only Seven Years and a Quarter Old |date=1825 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S5cVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1 |access-date=31 December 2019|author1=E. C. B }} Another, retitled to not yet nine years of age, was published in 1827.{{cite book|title=The Life and Theatrical Excursions of William Robert Grossmith the juvenile actor, not yet 9 years of age|year=1827|publisher=M Cowslade & Co|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8gwOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1}}{{cite web |title=Child prodigy actor prepares to retire as he headlines in Stockton |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3SSdJVYV9yCq8B8r9sTmVJp/child-prodigy-actor-prepares-to-retire-as-he-headlines-in-stockton |publisher=BBC |access-date=31 December 2019}}
He also made appearances with a younger sibling, Master Benjamin Grossmith.{{cite web|title= Master Grossmith|url= https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1994-0619-6|access-date= 23 January 2021|website= britishmuseum.org}}
After retiring from the stage William made a second career out of prosthetic limb manufacture.{{cite web|url=http://broughttolife.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/objects/display?id=92633|title=Artificial Limb| website=Science Museum| access-date=21 December 2019}} Their new entertainment for 1836, in three parts, was written expressly for them by George Dibdin Pitt, and performed in King's Lynn, Wisbech and other provincial theatres.{{cite news| newspaper= Bury and Norwich Post| date= 9 December 1835|page= 3| title= Masters Grossmith}}
In fact, so well-respected were William Grossmith' products that in 1856 he published a book on the subject: Amputations and Artificial Limbs (or Grossmith on Amputations, Artificial Legs, Hands &c.)''{{cite web|url=https://alondonfamily.com/tag/william-robert-grossmith/|title=A London Family|website=A London Family|date=April 2017 |access-date=21 December 2019}}{{cite book |last1=Grossmith |first1=William Robert |title=Amputations and Artificial Limbs |date=1857 |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/b22345061/page/n2 |access-date=31 December 2019}}
Legacy
File:Artificial left arm Wellcome L0037157.jpg
A painting of Grossmith as Richard in William Shakespeare's Richard III by G. Hancock is in the Victoria and Albert Museum.{{cite web|url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/william-robert-grossmith-18181899-as-richard-in-richard-iii-by-william-shakespeare-30432|title=William Robert Goldsmith|website=Artuk|access-date=21 December 2019}} A print of Grossmith as a child is in the British Museum collection.{{cite web|url=https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=705578&page=7&partId=1&searchText=lace|title=William Grossmith|publisher=British Museum|access-date=21 December 2019}}
Artificial limbs made by Grossmith in his later career are held in the Science Museum.{{cite web|url=https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/people/cp105845/william-robert-grossmith|title=Master Grossmith|website=Science Museum Group|access-date=21 December 2019}}
References
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Category:English male child actors