Lear, Edward

1812 – He was born this year in High gate, a suburb of London, the 20th child of his parents and was raised by his eldest sister, Ann, twenty-one years his senior. At the age of fifteen, he and his sister had to leave the family home and set up house together.

1830 – His first publication, at the age of 19, was the Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae, or Parrots. 

1837 – He was Epileptic and depressive, he lived mainly abroad after this year.

1846 – He published A Book of Nonsense; a volume of limericks which went through three editions and helped popularized the form.

1865 – The History of the Seven Families of the Lake Pipple-Popple was published.

1867 – Was his most famous piece of nonsense, The Owl and the Pussycat, which he wrote for the children of his patron Edward Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby.

1870 – He wrote “Journal of a Landscape Painter in Corsica”.

1872 – He then wrote More Nonsense Songs, Pictures, etc.

1877 – Followed by Laughable Lyrics this year.

1888 – He died on the 29th day of January this year.