Fred Marsden

Fred Marsden (1842– May 19, 1888) was an American playwright.

Life and career
Born William A. Silver in Baltimore, Maryland, Marsden was the son of Abraham Silver. He was educated as a lawyer in Philadelphia and began his career as a lawyer in that city prior to working as a playwright. He wrote his first play in 1872 at which time he changed his name to Fred Marsden. He penned both melodramas and farces; usually writing for the specific talents of well known performers of the second half of the 19th century. For Lotta Crabtree he wrote the plays Zip (1874), Musette (1876), and Bob (188?) and for the actress Annie Pixley he wrote Zara (1883) and Elly (1885). For the Irish comedian Joseph Murphy he wrote Cheek (1883) and Humbug (1886), and for William J. Scanlan he wrote the farce  The Irish Minstrel (1886).

Marsden committed suicide on May 19, 1888 at his home in Manhattan following a quarrel with his daughter.