Author: Alfred Gladstone
Author: Alfred Gladstone (1836–1864)
Biography: Alfred Gladstone was born on 26 February 1836 in Liverpool, the son of merchant Thomas Murray Gladstone. His father was the first cousin of Prime Minister W. E. Gladstone. At an early age he worked as a clerk in an iron works before becoming a ship broker in London. While there, he wrote a moderately successful novel The Man of the Hour (1863). The success, unfortunately, led to drink. Gladstone died due to an accidental fall during a night of drinking on 29 April 1864 in London. Another case of wasted potential. Note: author definitively identified through a letter to the editor written by the author to clarify his relation to the more famous Gladstone.
References: British Census (1841, 1851, 1861); Liverpool Albion (21 December 1863); London City Press (7 May 1864)
Fiction Titles:
- The Man of the Hour: A Tale of Real Life. 2 vol. London: T. C. Newby, 1863.