Brighella was one of the wooden puppets created using Gramm's Cyber-Technology. Johan Drossel used him to perform simple tasks like letting Mary Shelley out of the cage she was held in.
Brighella's functioning ceased together with that of its creator, Gramm, on 12 September 1873. All remnants of the Cyber-Technology were burned by the Eighth Doctor. (AUDIO: The Silver Turk)
Behind the scenes
Judging by the name, the appearance of Brighella was not based on any particular person. Rather it was based on a male character from the Commedia dell'arte. This made him a likely candidate for performing in Marionettenburg.