William Henry Brookfield

William Henry Brookfield (31 August 1809 – 12 July 1874) was an Anglican priest, Inspector of Schools, and chaplain-in-ordinary to Queen Victoria. His son was the playwright Charles Brookfield.

William Henry Brookfield was the second son of Charles Brookfield, a solicitor at Sheffield, where he was born on 31 August 1809.

He attended Leeds Grammar School, and in 1827 he was articled to a solicitor at Leeds, but left this position to enter Trinity College, Cambridge, in October 1829 (B.A. 1833, and M.A. 1836). In 1834 he became tutor to George William Lyttelton. In December 1834 he was ordained to the curacy of Maltby in Lincolnshire. He was afterwards curate at Southampton, in 1840 of St. James's, Piccadilly, and in 1841 of St. Luke's, Berwick Street.

In 1841 he married Jane Octavia, the eight and youngest daughter of Sir Charles Elton of Clevedon Court, Somerset. Julia Maria, wife of Henry Hallam the historian was Sir Charles's sister. In 1848 Brookfield was appointed inspector of schools by Lord Lansdowne. He held the post for seventeen years, during part of which time he was morning preacher at Berkeley Chapel, Mayfair. On resigning his inspectorship he became rector of Somerby-cum-Humby, near Grantham. He was also reader at the Rolls Chapel, and continued to reside chiefly in London. In 1860 he was appointed honorary chaplain to the queen, and later chaplain-in-ordinary. He died on 12 July 1874. Mrs. Brookfield died on 27 November 1896 at Walpole Street, Chelsea. One son, Arthur Montagu Brookfield was an army officer, Member of Parliament, Diplomat and author. Another son, Charles Brookfield, was a well-known actor and playwright.

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