On 14 March 1872 Brooks was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. In January, 1874 he was a founder member of the Cremation Society of Great Britain, set up to campaign for the legalisation of cremation, but within a few weeks he had died. Death found him in the midst of his books and papers working cheerfully amongst his family. Two articles, Election Epigrams and The Situation, were written on his death-bed, and before they were published he was dead. He died at 6 Kent Terrace, Regent's Park, London, on 23 February 1874, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery on the 28th. He married Emily Margaret, daughter of Dr. William Walkinshaw of Naparima, Trinidad. She was granted a civil list pension of £100 on 19 June 1876, and died on 14 May 1880. Their son, Reginald Shirley Brooks, was also a journalist. Works The works by Brooks not already mentioned are: The Wigwam (c. 1847) Amusing Poetry (1857) The Silver Cord, a Story (1861), 3 vols Follies of the Year (1866), by J. Leech, with notes by S. Brooks Sooner or Later (1866–8) with illustrations by George Du Maurier, 3 vols The Naggletons and Miss Violet, and her Offer (1875) Wit and Humour, Poems from "Punch" (1875), edited by his son, Reginald Shirley Brooks References General references External links Archival material at English magazine editors 1816 births 1874 deaths 19th-century British journalists British male journalists English male novelists 19th-century English novelists 19th-century English male writers Punch (magazine) people English male non-fiction writers