George and Weedon Grossmith

George Grossmith (1847 – 1912) and Weedon Grossmith (1854 – 1919) were joint authors of The Diary of a Nobody, based on a series of amusing columns written between 1888-9 for Punch, and published as a novel in 1892 with illustrations by Weedon. The book has remained in print ever since that first publication.

George started his career as a court reporter for The Times, and Weedon as an artist. They both later became actors, and George created many famous baritone roles in the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan at the Savoy theatre. George retired in 1900 and died in Folkestone in 1912. Weedon retired in 1917 and died in London in 1919.

Pictured; George Grossmith in one of his many Gilbert and Sullivan roles.