BROUGHAM, JOHN, b. Ireland, 1810, d. N. Y., 18S0; studied surgery for a consid erable time, but was obliged to leave school on account of adversity, and went to Lon don, where he proposed to enter the East India service; but an old man gave him a guinea, and urged him to seek some titter employment. Happening to meet an old acquaintance, he got an engagement in the prince of Wales theater, and there in July, 1830, he acted six parts in the old play Tom, and Jerry. In 1830, he was 0 member of the company organized by Madame Vestris. About this dine he wrote his first play, a burlesque, prepared for William E. Burton, then acting in London. In 1840, he was a member of the Lyceum, for which theater he wrote a number of plays. lie came to the United States in 1842, and appeared in the old Park theater hi New York city. Soon after he joined Burton's company in Chambers street; and here also he wrote a num ber of plays, among which were Vanity Fair, All is Fair in Love. Dombey and Son, and the Irish Emigrant. Afterwards he managed Niblo's Garden, and iu Dec., 1850, he
opened l3rougliarn's Lyceum on Broadway, where he produced David Copperfield, and a new version of the Actress of Padua, the latter written for Charlotte Cushman. He then connected himself with Wallack's company, in which he remained until 1860; then managed the Bowery theater. reviving King John with superb scenery. Meanwhile he was writing plays, among which were the Game of Love, Bleak House, A Decided Case, Game of Lfs, Playing with Fire, Pocahontas, Love and Murder, Romance and Reality, etc. After several seasons at Wallack's, he rejoined Burton and produced his burlesque of Columbus, and other plays. In 1860, he went to England, where lie remained five years, and there too he was writing and adapting plays, among them the Duke's Motto, for Mr. Fechter. He reappeared in New York in Oct., 1865, and not long after again joined Wallack's company, with which he remained until the close of his life. Among his later plays are John, Garth, and The Lily of France.