Person
William Combe
British miscellaneous writer
William Combe (March 25, 1742 – June 19, 1823) is a British miscellaneous writer.
His early life is that of an adventurer, his later is passed chiefly within the "rules" of the King's Bench Prison.
He is chiefly remembered as the author of The Three Tours of Doctor Syntax, a comic poem, illustrated by artist Thomas Rowlandson's color plates, that satirize William Gilpin.
Combe also writes a series of imaginary letters, supposed to have been written by the second, or "wicked" Lord Lyttelton.
Of a similar kind are his letters between Swift and "Stella".
He also writes the letterpress for various illustrated books, and is a general hack.