~ 1717 - 1797
Horace Walpole (1717-1797) was an English author, art historian, and politician best known for his eclectic Gothic Revival house, Strawberry Hill, and for his novel "The Castle of Otranto," considered one of the first Gothic novels. He was a prominent figure in the 18th-century literary scene and contributed significantly to the development of the Gothic genre in literature. In addition to his literary work, Walpole served as a member of Parliament and was an influential collector of art and antiquities.