The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Akhurst, William

by Philip Mennell

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Akhurst, William, the actor, was born at Hammersmith on Dec. 29th, 1822, and went to Melbourne, Australia, in 1850. Here he joined the Melbourne Argus as sub-editor and musical critic. Subsequently he wrote fourteen pantomimes, one of his burlesques, the "Siege of Troy," running sixty nights. In 1870 he returned to England, and wrote pantomimes for Astley's, the Pavilion, and the Elephant and Castle Theatres. He died on board of the Patriarch, whilst on his way out to Sydney, on June 7th, 1878.