Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Peake, Richard Brinsley
PEAKE, RICHARD BRINSLEY (1792–1847), dramatist, son of Richard Peake, who was for forty years in the treasury office of Drury Lane Theatre, was born in Gerrard Street, Soho, on 19 Feb. 1792. He was articled to James Heath [q. v.] the engraver, and remained with him from 1809 to 1817, when he turned his attention to writing for the stage. His first production seems to have been ‘Amateurs and Actors,’ a musical farce, given at the English Opera House on 29 Aug. 1818, and revived at Covent Garden on 28 Oct. 1826. It was followed by ‘The Duel, or My Two Nephews,’ a two-act farce (Covent Garden, 18 Feb. 1823); ‘Presumption, or the Fate of Frankenstein,’ based partly on Mrs. Shelley's novel, and partly upon a French piece (Covent Garden, 9 July 1824); and ‘Comfortable Lodgings, or Paris in 1750,’ a farce, played first at Drury Lane on 10 March 1827 and on twelve subsequent occasions, with Liston in the chief part of Sir Hippington Miff. One of the best of Peake's numerous pieces, ‘The Haunted Inn,’ a two-act farce, appeared at Drury Lane on 31 Jan. 1828, and was played eighteen times. His farce ‘Before Breakfast’ was acted at Bath on 28 Feb. 1828, and ‘Master's Rival,’ which had proved an utter failure at Drury Lane in the previous February, was given with applause at Covent Garden on 6 May 1829. Peake is said to have written most of the later ‘At Homes’ given by Charles Mathews at the Adelphi from 1829 onwards. For about the last ten years of his life he was treasurer at the Lyceum Theatre. His last play, ‘The Title Deeds,’ an original comedy, in three acts and in prose, appeared in 1847, and Peake died on 4 Oct. in this same year, leaving a large family in somewhat necessitous circumstances. Besides those above mentioned, Peake's chief plays were: 1. ‘The Bottle Imp,’ a melodramatic romance, produced at Covent Garden on 17 Oct. 1828, and played several times. 2. ‘The Hundred Pound Note,’ a two-act farce [1829]. 3. ‘Court and City,’ a comedy, based upon Sir Richard Steele's ‘Tender Husband’ and Mrs. F. Sheridan's ‘Discovery’ [1830]. 4. ‘Uncle Rip,’ a two-act farce [1830]. 5. ‘The Chancery Suit,’ a comedy in three acts and in prose, 1831. 6. ‘House Room, or the Dishonoured Bill,’ a farcetta, 1836. 7. ‘Blanche of Jersey,’ a musical romance [1838]. 8. ‘Gemini,’ a farce, 1838. 9. ‘The Spring Lock,’ an operatic romance in two acts, 1838. 10. ‘The Meltonians, a perfectly illegitimate drama and extravaganza’ [1838]. 11. ‘The Sheriff of the County,’ a comedy, 1840. 12. ‘The Title Deeds,’ an original comedy in three acts and in prose, 1847. Peake also wrote the letterpress for ‘French Characteristic Costumes,’ 1816, 4to; Snobson's ‘Seasons,’ being annals of cockney sports, illustrated by Seymour, 1838, 8vo; the useful ‘Memoirs of the Colman Family,’ including their correspondence with the most distinguished persons of their time, 2 vols. 1841, 8vo; and ‘Cartouche, the celebrated French Robber,’ 3 vols. 12mo, 1844.
[Genest's History of the English Stage, vol. ix. passim; Times, 7 Oct. 1847; Era, 10 Oct. 1847; Ann. Register, 1847, p. 261; Georgian Era, iii. 586; Hall's Reminiscences; Atlantic Monthly, April 1865; Brit. Mus. Cat.]