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Mark Lemon (November 30, 1809 - May 23, 1870) was the editor of Punch , born in London, England. He had a natural talent for journalism and the stage, and, at twenty-six, retired from less congenial business to devote himself to the writing of plays. More than sixty of his melodramas, operettas and comedies were produced in London. At the same time he contributed to a variety of magazines and newspapers, and founded and edited the Field. In 1841 Lemon and Henry Mayhew conceived the idea of a humorous weekly paper to be called Punch, and when the first number was issued, in July 1841, were joint-editors and, with the printer and engraver, equal owners. The paper was for some time unsuccessful, Lemon keeping it alive out of the profits of his plays. On the sale of Punch Lemon became sole editor for the new proprietors, and it remained under his control until his death, achieving remarkable popularity and influence. He also helped his friend Herbert Ingram with advice when Ingram founded the Illustrated London News, the first publication to make use of pictures as well as text in reporting. Lemon was an actor of ability, a pleasing lecturer and a successful impersonator of Shakespearian characters. He also wrote a host of novelettes and lyrics, over a hundred songs, a few three-volume novels, several Christmas fairy tales and a volume of jests. He was a stalwart of the London Gentlemen's club the Savage Club. He died in Crawley, Sussex, England, on the 23rd of May 1870. He is buried in St.Margarets Church, Ifield, Crawley .
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