JERROLD, jer'61d, Douglas William, Eng lish dramatist and humorist: b. London, 3 Jan. 1803 ; d. Kilburn Priory, near London, 8 June 1857. He was a midshipman in the navy 1813 15, and then quitting the service, was bound ap prentice to a printer in London. By hard study he made himself master of Latin and Italian, besides acquiring an extensive knowledge of general literature, and at first attempted dramatic criticism. The bent of his genius, however, lay mainly in the direction of dramatic writing. Numberless pieces were produced by him before he was 20, but the first which won decided popularity was
ducted successively the Illuminated Magazine and Douglas Jerrold's Shilling Magazine, was a member of the literary staff of Punch, and in 1852 became editor of Lloyd's Weekly News paper. To this he contributed 'Mrs. Caudle's Curtain Lectures' ; 'Punch's Letters to his Son' ; the 'Story of a Feather.' He wrote several novels, among which are 'The Mad Mode of Money', and 'Chronicles of Clover nook' (1846). A selection of his essays, edited by his grandson, Walter Jerrold, appeared in 1903. Though a powerful master of satire, he never allowed his wit, whether as an author or in private life, to be tinged with malevolence. Consult Jerrold, W. B., and Remains of Douglas Terrold' (1859); Jerrold, W. C., (Douglas Jerrold and Punch.'