Charles Lamb was born in London in 1775. He was educated at Christ's Hospital, where he formed his lifelong friendship with Coleridge. After school, he obtained a post at the South Sea House and was then promoted to the India House, where he worked until his retirement in 1825. In 1796 his sister Mary murdered their mother in a fit of insanity. Lamb was appointed her guardian, and cared for her for the rest of her life. He is best known for the essays he contributed to the London Magazine between 1820 and 1823, under the name of 'Elia', although he also wrote poems, plays, literary criticism and works for children. These include Tales from Shakespeare (1807), written in collaboration with Mary, and Specimens of English Dramatic Poets (1808). Lamb died in 1834.