DOUGLAS WILLIAM JERROLD BIOGRAPHY

JERROLD, DOUGLAS WILLIAM (1803-1857). —Dramatist and miscellaneous writer, s. of an actor, himself appeared as a child upon the stage. From his 10th to his 12th year he was at sea. He then became apprentice to a printer, devoting all his spare time to self-education. He early began to contribute to periodicals, and in his 18th year he was engaged by the Coburg Theatre as a writer of short dramatic pieces. In 1829 he made a great success by his drama of Black-eyed Susan , which he followed up by The Rent Day , Bubbles of the Day , Time works Wonders , etc. In 1840 he became ed. of a publication, Heads of the People , to which Thackeray was a contributor, and in which some of the best of his own work appeared. He was one of the leading contributors to Punch , in which Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures came out, and from 1852 he ed. Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper . Among his novels are St. Giles and St. James , and The Story of a Feather . J. had a great reputation as a wit, was a genial and kindly man, and a favourite with his fellow littérateurs , who raised a fund of £2000 for his family on his death.