There was an Old Man of Vesuvius
by Edward Lear

English artist, traveller and writer. He wrote and illustrated many books most of which fall into one of two categories, travel or children's verse. Under the patronage of the thirteenth Earl of Derby he travelled widely and produced many illustrated works detailing his experiences. Sketches of Rome (1842), and Illustrated Excursions in Italy (1846) are his most well known travel books. A greater part of his important works for children were written after 1870, these include Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany and Alphabets (1870), More Nonsense Rhymes (1871), and Laughable Lyrics (1876).