Person    | Male  Born 12/5/1812  Died 29/1/1888

Edward Lear

Categories: Art, Literature, Poetry, Seriously Famous

Countries: Italy

Born Bowman's Lodge, (now Bowman's Mews), the penultimate of 21 children. Artist and writer of nonsense works, such as The Owl and the Pussycat, and limericks, e.g.
There was an old person of Putney,
Whose food was roast spiders and chutney,
Which he took with his tea,
Within sight of the sea,
That romantic old person of Putney.

Gave drawing lessons to Queen Victoria in 1846. Suffered from epilepsy and depression. Was a successful painter but in 1862 a bad review published in the Times proved a turning point in his career. His professional painting career never recovered but his nonsense verse came to the fore. Spent the last 17 years of his life at San Remo, Italy, where he died.

Nonsenselit is worth a visit.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Edward Lear

Commemorated ati

Edward Lear - N7

In Elizabethan times, a favourite spot for archery contests. Edward Lear, 181...

Read More

Edward Lear - Seymour Street - gone

Edward Lear, 1812 - 1888, artist and writer, lived here. London County Council

Read More

Edward Lear - Stratford Place

From 1859 to 1868 the poet, painter and traveller, Edward Lear, 1812 - 1888, ...

Read More

Other Subjects

Jan Verbruggen

Jan Verbruggen

Master gun-founder and artist. Born at Enkhuizen in the Netherlands. After an unsuccessful attempt in 1763, he and his son Pieter were appointed master founders at the Royal Arsenal Woolwich in 177...

Person, Art, Engineering, Netherlands

2 memorials
Howard Carter

Howard Carter

Archaeologist and artist. Born at 10 Rich Terrace, Kensington. He first went to Egypt as an artist and drew the painted reliefs of Queen Hatsheput at Thebes. After several years as chief inspector ...

Person, Art, Exploring, History, Egypt

1 memorial
Karl Ghattas

Karl Ghattas

Born Khaled Ghattas in Egypt. He trained in several hospitals in London and Chester graduating in medicine London University 1982, but then took an MSc in philosophy at the London School of Economi...

Person, Art, Medicine, Philosophy, Poetry, Egypt, Spain

1 memorial
Gerald Moira

Gerald Moira

Gerald Edward Moira was an English painter best known for his murals. Born in London, the son of a former Portuguese diplomat. His first commission was a mural for J. Lyons and Co., for the Trocad...

Person, Art

1 memorial
Renate Keeping

Renate Keeping

Artist. Born Renate Hannah Meyer in Berlin. Her family came as refugees to Britain in 1933. She married fellow artist Charles Keeping.

Person, Art, Germany

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Mazawattee Tea Warehouse

Mazawattee Tea Warehouse

EC3, Tower Hill Terrace, Tower Vaults

This large plaque is laid into the ground in the middle of the shopping centre.

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator