W. S. Gilbert
1836–1911 (age 75)
Biography
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert spent his life in London forging plays and librettos that paired pointed satire with structural finesse, most famously in partnership with Arthur Sullivan on the Savoy operas that delighted Victorian audiences.
Beyond the theater he cultivated a deep respect for the craft of storytelling, and his insistence on disciplined verse, witty patter, and moral undertones set a new standard for comic opera and inspired generations of performers and writers.