Career
In 1832, Booth bought the site of the old Ophthalmic Hospital in Albany Street, Regent"s Park as a site for his distillery. The site was in the North-East corner of Cumberland Market. The venture was unsuccessful so Sir Felix reverted to the more conventional method of vinegar brewing.
As of 2015, Booth"s Gin remains licensed by Diageo.
Fascinated by science, Booth financed John Ross"s 1829 expedition to find the Northwest Passage. The Boothia Peninsula and Gulf of Boothia are named after him.
He provided £17,000 for the expenses of the expedition, to which Captain (later Sir John) Ross had added £3,000, and the result was an immense stride in the progress of geographical science. The grateful commander bestowed the name of his patron upon several of his discoveries on land and sea - Gulf of Boothia, Isthmus of Boothia, Continent of Boothia Felix, Felix Harbor, Cape Felix, and Sheriff"s Harbor: the district with the islands, rivers, lakes, &c., extending to 74° North. latitude along the north-eastern portion of North America.
The discovery most important to geographical science was that of the magnetic pole at 96° 46" 45" West. longitude, and 70° 5" 17".
Having served as Alderman and Master of the Worshipful Company of Coopers, Booth was elected a Sheriff of London in 1828.