1922 Encyclopædia Britannica/Abingdon, William Leper

ABINGDON, WILLIAM LEPER [Pilgrim] (1859–1918), English actor, was born May 2 1859 at Towcester, Northants. He began life as a bank clerk, but soon went on the stage, first appearing at Belfast in 1881. His chief successes were in melodrama, with Wilson Barrett's travelling companies and later at the Adelphi theatre, London, where he played in The Harbour Light (1899) and many similar pieces. Between 1903 and 1911 he appeared often in America. In 1905 he played Monks in Oliver Twist at His Majesty's theatre, London. He died in New York May 20 1918.