William Henry Ireland

William Henry Ireland
William Henry Ireland, hand-coloured stipple engraving by Frederick Mackenzie after Unknown artist, 1818, National Portrait Gallery, London.
Born	(1775-08-02)2 August 1775[1] London[1]
Died	17 April 1835(1835-04-17) (aged 59)[1] Sussex Place, St George's-in-the-Fields, London[1]
Nationality	English
Occupation(s)	clerk, writer, illustrator
Known for	Ireland Shakespeare forgeries
Notable work	Vortigern and Rowena
Spouses	Alice Crudge (4 July 1796–her death)[1] unknown Ireland, née Bayly, née Pepper (1804–?)[2]
Children	Anna Maria de Burgh[1] another daughter[1]
Parents	Samuel Ireland[1] (father) Anna Maria de Burgh Coppinger[1] (mother)

William Henry Ireland (1775–1835) was an English forger of would-be Shakespearean documents and plays. He is less well known as a poet, writer of gothic novels and histories. Although he was apparently christened William-Henry, he was known as Samuel through much of his life (apparently after a brother who died in childhood), and many sources list his name as Samuel William Henry Ireland.