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    "source_title": "Encyclopaedia Britannica (1911)",
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    "chunk_id": "1911:betterton:ba9b96316d0c",
    "title": "BETTERTON",
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    "verified_text": "betterton, thomas (c. 1635-1710), english actor, son of an under-cook to king charles i., was born in london. he was apprenticed to john holden sir william davenant's publisher, and possibly later to a bookseller named rhodes, who had been wardrobe-keeper to the theatre in blackfriars. the latter obtained in 1659 a licence to set up a company of players at the cockpit in drury lane; and on the reopening of this theatre in 1660, betterton made his first appearance on the stage. his talents at once brought him into prominence, and he was given leading parts. on the opening of the new theatre in lincoln's inn fields in 1661, sir william davenant, the patentee, engaged betterton and all rhodes's company to play in his _siege of rhodes_. betterton, besides being a public favourite, was held in high esteem by charles ii., who sent him to paris to examine stage improvements there. according to cibber it was after his return that shifting scenes instead of tapestry were first used in an english theatre. in 1692, in an unfortunate speculation, betterton and his friend sir francis watson were ruined; but betterton's affection for sir francis was so strong that he adopted the latter's daughter and educated her for the stage. in 1693, with the aid of friends, he erected the new playhouse in the tennis court in lincoln's inn fields. it was opened in 1695 with congreve's _love for love_. but in a few years the profits fell off; and betterton, labouring under the infirmities of age and gout, determined to quit the stage. at his benefit performance, when the profits are said to have been over",
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