William Bragge

William Bragge, F.S.A., F.G.S., was an English civil engineer, antiquarian and author. He established a museum and art gallery, The original and revised volumes constitute the earliest specialist bibliography in the English language.

Early life and education Bragge was born in Birmingham, where his father, Thomas Perry Bragg, was a jeweller. He had a brother, Joseph, six years younger.

Bragge returned to England in 1858, and in Sheffield from 1858 to 1872 was a managing director of John Brown & Company. In 1870, he became Master Cutler of Sheffield. He established an armour-plate manufactory in Sheffield as well. Free Libraries Committee School of Art Fellow, Society of Antiquaries Fellow, Anthropological Society Fellow, Royal Geographical Society

Antiquarian In addition to South America, Bragge's travels took him to Russia and Bragge was a frequent visitor to Spain where he developed an interest in its literature, including that of Miguel de Cervantes. He collected gems and precious stones from all over Europe, as well as 13,000 pipes, hundreds of types of tobacco, and snuff boxes.

Personal life Bragge lived for a time on Shirley Hills, Birmingham. who presented to the Birmingham Central Reference Library, Language and Literature Department, a marble profile medallion portrait of her father aged 42, sculpted by Edward William Wyon in 1865. He had three sons, Charles William Bragge (born in Chester), George Stephenson Bragge (born in Rio de Janeiro) and Frank John Bragge (born in Sheffield).

Selected works