Cirrus@Austlit

The son of Barnabas Brough, a brewer, publican, wine merchant and later dramatist, and his wife Frances Whiteside, a poet and novelist, William Brough was educated at Newport, Monmouthshire, and after leaving school apprenticed to a printer at Breconcarved. He later carved out a career as a writer and dramatist, however. Among his works were numerous articles for various periodicals and a number of burlesques, farces and other theatrical pieces which were produced on the London stage.

In 1848 William and his brother Robert wrote their first burlesque play together, The Enchanted Isle. First staged in Liverpool it later transferred to the Adelphi in London. Among many their later collaborations were The Sphinx (1849) and The Last Edition of Ivanhoe (1850). William also wrote some early sketches fro Mrs German Reed as well.