One of the greatest ornithological artists of his era, the multi-talented Edward Lear was a self-taught naturalist and painter who later became famous as a writer of nonsense and limericks. Lear¹s exacting and masterly skill as an artist was employed by many major publishers of nineteenth century English ornithologies and natural histories. Born outside London in 1812, Lear was the twentieth child of Jeremiah Lear, a well-to-do London stockbroker. In 1816, Jeremiah went bankrupt, and Edward was raised primarily by his elder sister, Ann, who provided classical studies and taught him to draw from nature. At the age of fourteen, Lear began his career as an artist.