Clue: Cynic died before seeing about having a ball (8)
Answer: DIOGENES
Explanation: Definition: Cynic
An envelope ('having') of O ('a ball') in D ('died') plus IGENES, an anagram ('about') of 'seeing'. Diogenes was one of the founders of Cynic philosophy.
 
 Diogenes living in his jar. The lamp at his feet refers to his stunt, walking about Athens in the daytime with it, claiming that he was looking for an honest man.