Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree

Born Herbert Draper Beerbohm in London on 17 December 1852, he first worked in the family business before committing himself to the stage in the 1870s. He took the professional name Herbert Beerbohm Tree and rose quickly as an actor, winning attention for both modern plays and Shakespeare.

Tree became one of the best-known actor-managers of his day. After running theatres including the Haymarket, he opened Her Majesty's Theatre in 1897, later His Majesty's Theatre, where he staged large-scale productions that were famous for their rich scenery, crowd scenes, and theatrical spectacle. He was especially associated with Shakespeare, playing roles such as Hamlet, Macbeth, and King John.

He was also an important teacher and champion of the theatre as a profession. In 1904 he helped found the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, which went on to train generations of performers. Knighted in 1909, he remained a major figure on the London stage until his death on 2 July 1917.