Edward Lear: A Life of Whimsical Observation and Artistic Innovation Edward Lear (1812-1888) was far more than simply an artist; he was a multifaceted personality – a poet, musician, illustrator, naturalist, and keen observer of the world around him. Born in Somerset, England, into a family with a strong musical tradition, his early life was marked by deafness resulting from scarlet fever at the age of four, profoundly shaping his per…