Sir Francis Cowley Burnand Punch magazine correspondence

Sir Francis Cowley Burnand (1836-1917), was a talented and prolific comedic writer. He began writing stage pieces while at Eton College from 1851-1854. He then moved on to Trinity College, Cambridge University, for three years. He entered the seminary soon after, but decided his true vocation was as a comedic writer for the stage. Burnand authored over one hundered farces, burlesques, pantomimes, light musical pieces, and melodramas. He collaborated with both W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. He also wrote for the comic periodical "Fun." Mark Lemon, the founding editor of "Punch," recruited him as a regular contributor in 1863. Burnand worked at "Punch" for forty-three years. He was knighted in 1902 - the first time a "Punch" writer had been so honored. After his forced retirement from the magazine in 1906, Burnand toured England with a lecture entitled "Nearly Fifty Years of Punch." His memoirs, titled "Records and Reminiscences," were published in 1903.

Biographical information excerpted from "Encyclopedia of British Humorists, Geoffrey Chaucer to John Cleese," volume 1, A-K., page 169. Garland Publishing, New York and London, 1996.