Edward Lear, an English writer and artist, became famous for his humorous poems for children. Born on May 12 1812, Lear's first book of poems, "A Book of Nonsense" (1846) ranks as a masterpiece of children's literature. His best known "The owl and the Pussy-cat" became a classic too.

Lear was born in London. He began to earn his living at the age of 15 by drawing birds and doing other art work. Lear established a reputation as a natural history artist with his first book of drawings of parrots, published in 1832. He also became known for his detailed landscape paintings. During the mid 1830s, while drawing and painting for a living, Lear began to write nonsense verse for children. However, none of his verses were published until 1846. Edward Lear also drew many illustrations for his books.

However, Limerick, the name has been taken from the city of Limerick, Ireland. No one knows how or where the form originated until Edward Lear made it popular. 

There was a young lady of wilts,
who walked on to Scotland on stilts;
When they said, it is shocking,
To show so much stocking,
She answered, "Then what about kilts?"

MORE LIMERICKS OF EDWARD LEAR