William B. Wood

Who was William B. Wood?

William Burke Wood was an theatre manager and actor. He was brought as a child to New York City, where he began life as a clerk. Feeling that he had a vocation for the stage, he set out for Annapolis, Maryland, with a capital of three doubloons, and through the courtesy of Manager Wignell, an old family friend, he made his first appearance there on 26 June 1798 as George Barnwell. He was partially successful, and began an engagement the same year in Philadelphia in Secrets Worth Knowing.

On 30 January 1804, he married Juliana Westray, a British-born actress. She had joined the company in which Wood was playing, and after her marriage continued to act in the theatres that he managed. The couple had a son, William Wightman Wood, who became a journalist and author based in Macau and Canton, China.

In the autumn of 1809, Wood purchased of William Warren one half of his interest in the Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington theatres. Previous to entering upon the duties of management he visited New York City and played De Valmont.