William Ernest Henley was an English poet, writer, critic, and editor who lived from 1849 to 1903. Though he produced several books of poetry throughout his career, he is remembered most prominently for his 1875 poem "Invictus." Henley was a fixture in London's literary circles during the late nineteenth century. Despite losing a leg, he remained an active and influential presence in the literary world. His distinctive character and experiences made an impression on his contemporaries, most notably Robert Louis Stevenson, who drew inspiration from Henley when creating the character Long John Silver. Beyond his own literary work, Henley's influence extended to other major writers of his era. His young daughter Margaret Henley inspired J. M. Barrie's choice of the name Wendy for the heroine of his play Peter Pan, which premiered in 1904, the year after Henley's death.