Great Regulars: Mirza Hoseyn Ali Nuri, who would later

be known as Bahá'u'lláh or "The Splendor of God," was born on November 12, 1817, in Tehran, Iran. Bahá'u'lláh’s father, Mirza Abbas Nuri, was a powerful government dignitary who served as a governor until 1834 when the new Shah purged the old government. Bahá'u'lláh’s family was left with their family estate, where Bahá'u'lláh had a comfortable childhood. As the son of nobility, traditions of the time prevented Bahá'u'lláh from receiving a formal education, but he studied calligraphy, poetry, horsemanship and swordsmanship on his own, and soon gained a reputation for his knowledge and insight.

from findingDulcinea: Happy Birthday: Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá’í Religion

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William Schwenck Gilbert, one half of the successful Gilbert and Sullivan duo, had a knack for satire and an eye for staging, producing comic operettas beloved to this day, including "The Pirates of Penzance" and "The Mikado." Gilbert coped with a difficult childhood with disagreeable parents and surmounted a period of indecision before launching himself into a renowned career writing for theater.

from findingDulcinea: Happy Birthday: W.S. Gilbert, Operetta Librettist for "The Pirates of Penzance"

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Although weak in health himself, Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson will always be associated with vigorous adventure, thanks to such thrilling tales as "Kidnapped" and "Treasure Island." He also achieved international fame for his chilling (and subsequently oft-imitated) Victorian horror story, "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."

from findingDulcinea: Happy Birthday: Robert Louis Stevenson, Author of 'Treasure Island'

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