Regency Reader Questions: An Ad Starring John Wilkes Booth’s Dad

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Thanks for the question, Terry Sue, and for being a Regency Reader!  Also, this is a great, detailed rabbit hole question — and such a brilliant, curious observation.  I love posting the advertisements for just these sorts of details that pop out and tell us something surprising about the Regency.

Here is an ad for the Zimmermanic Powder from 1817 in Bell’s Monthly Compendium of Advertisements:

ZIMMERMANIC POWDER OF HEALTH The Agent for the PARISIAN PROPRIETORS of the ZIMMERMANIC POWDER OF HEALTH has the honour to announce that circular letters have been distributed throughout the greater part of the Metropolis as well as other parts of Great Britain describing the unique merit of this Pow der which is the invaluable Specific of the cele brated Dr Zimmerman of high eminence in lite rature and medicine late Physician to his present Britannic Majesty and likewise to the GREAT FRE DERIC OF PRUSSIA but as in the above circulars the Printer omitted some essential circumstances the Public are requested instead of applying merely for the Powder of Health to state particularly for what disorder they make the application as the Powder is prepared in different ways according to the nature of the disease Above Thirty Years experience has proved the great Virtue of this Powder that it judiciously strengthens the Debilitated Constitution gives Appetite and Spirits to the Patient and will by fol lowing strictly the Directions given with the Box effect a radical Cure for those afflicted with Wind Indigestion Heartburn Giddiness Coughing and Sickness at first rising in the morning Nervous Affections Water on the Chest Superabundance of Phlegm Asthma Eruption on the Face and Skin Swelling from Weakness and all Cutaneous Disor ders Scurvy Scrofula Glandular Complaints Rheumatism Gout and all diseases incident to the tender Ages of Children From a great number of Cases we select that of Miss Booth sister to the celebrated Mr ВооTH of the Theatre Royal Covent Garden who by the use of this Powder was Cured of a Scorbutic Eruption in the Face which had baffled the power of every other Medicine prescribed The Address of Respectable Persons may be bad at the Depôt who have been perfectly cured of the most obstinate disorders Each Box contains Twelve Powders price ss 6d Sold at D AUBIGNE'S No 4 Queen street four doors from Great Russel street near the British Mu seum Bloomsbury Boxes for Children with Ten Doses price 2s 6d Persons residing in the country by enclosing a Pound Note will receive Three Boxes Letters un less post paid will not be received The Vin d Absinthe and Elixir de Garns 9s 6d the pint
I found the following reference and interesting footnote in Hazlitt, W. (1906). A view of the English stage, or, A series of dramatic criticisms [repr. from newspapers] ed. by W.S. Jackson. United Kingdom: G. Bell & Sons:

MR BOOTH'S DUKE OF GLOUCESTER Covent Garden February 16 1817 A GENTLEMAN of the name of Booth 1 who we understand has been acting with considerable applause at Worthing and Brighton came out in Richard Duke of Gloucester at this theatre on Wednesday We do not know well what to think of his powers till we see him in some part in which he is more himself His face is adapted to tragic char acters and his voice wants neither strength nor musical expression But almost the whole of his performance was an exact copy or parody of Mr Kean's manner of doing the same part It was a complete but at the same time a successful piece of plagiarism We do not think this kind of second hand reputation can last upon the London boards for more than a character or two In the country these doubles of the best London performers go down very well for they are the best they can get and they have not the originals to make invidious comparisons with But it will hardly do to bring out the same entertainment that we can have as it is first served up at Drury Lane in a hashed state at Covent Garden We do not blame Mr Booth for bor rowing Mr Kean's coat and feathers to appear in upon a first and trying occasion but if he wishes to gain a per manent reputation he must come forward in his own per son He must try to be original and not content himself with treading in another's steps We say this the rather because as far as we could judge Mr Booth in point of execution did those passages the best in which he now and 1 Junius Brutus Booth 1796 1852 who made his actual début at Covent Garden in the small part of Silvius As You Like It October 25 1815 undertook a leading part for the first time February 12 1817 as recorded above He was the father of Edwin Booth

Hazlitt seems to confirm the identity of the Covent Garden Booth as none other than the father of John Wilkes Booth.

Junius Brutus Booth c 1850

Junius Brutus Booth was so famous, he published in 1817 a memoir that included an appendix filled with letters from the famous, fashionable, and upper orders.  It was in 1817 that he came to national recognition for his portrayal of Richard III at Covent Garden Theatre.  That same year, Booth appeared at Drury Lane in character as Ingo.  However, there was scuttle that resulted in the following blurb published in March 1817:

Staffordshire Advertiser – Saturday 01 March 1817

In 1818 he was playing at both Covent Garden and Drury Lane in a variety of productions including Shakespeare.

By 1821, Booth fled to the US with a flower girl, abandoning his wife and their young son.  He returned to England for several tours in the 1820s and 1830s, mostly with his son Edwin, also an actor, in tow.

The Booths have a fascinating history, including Junius’s father being a great supporter of the American struggle for independence.  I wasn’t able uncover much about the aforementioned Miss Booth, sister to Junius, but I believe with a high level of certainty her name was invoked due to Junius star power in 1817.

Thanks for the really interesting exploration of the Booths!

Read more:

Booth and “the Glorious Cause of Freedom” | LincolnConspirators.com

The Passionate Booths | LincolnConspirators.com

Inside John Wilkes Booth’s Famous Family | HISTORY

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2 Responses to Regency Reader Questions: An Ad Starring John Wilkes Booth’s Dad

  1. Dave Taylor says:
    June 18, 2025 at 10:49 am

    Jane Booth was the sister of Junius Brutus Booth. She married James Mitchell and moved to America, lodging with her brother’s family for a time. I never knew she was referenced in an advertisement though. Fascinating!

    • Anne says:
      June 20, 2025 at 8:36 am

      Thank you, Dave, for supplying this additional information! Sometimes it takes a village to piece together the puzzle pieces of history. What a fascinating family.