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R. LIONEL BROUGH was born at Pontypool, and was educated at the Manchester Grammar School. His first employment was in the humble capacity of office-boy to Mr. J. Timbs, in the office of The Illustrated London News, in Douglas Jerrold's time. But Mr. Brough was one of those rare characters whom weight of adverse circumstances cannot keep from rising to the surface as surely as a cork in water. Subsequently he published the first number of The Daily Telegraph, and for some years was connected with The Morning Star. Going to Liverpool with other members of the Savage Club to give amateur theatrical performances in aid of the Lancashire Relief Fund, he achieved so decided a success that he was offered a regular engagement by Mr. A. Henderson, and made his first professional appearance in Liverpool in 1864, and in London in 1867. Since that time he has held his place as one of the best and most popular actors of low-comedy characters at present on the stage.