Edward Lear

Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) was an artist and writer, well known for his nonsensical poetry and limericks, which he popularised. He was born in London and was the twentieth child of his parents. He started work as an illustrator and his first publication was Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots in 1830. In 1846, he published A Book of Nonsense which went through three editions. In 1865 The History of the Seven Families of the Lake Pipple-Popple was published and in 1867, his most famous piece of nonsense, The Owl and the Pussycat. Many other works followed.