Thomas Love Peacock (October 18, 1785-January 23, 1866) was a British poet, novelist, and official of the East India Company. His novel Headlong Hall (1815) established him as a master of the satirical novel. He continued in this genre with Melincourt (1817), Nightmare Abbey (1818), and Crochet Castle (1831). He also wrote poetry, essays, and plays.