W. S. Gilbert Sir William Schwenck Gilbert ( 18 November 1836 -- 29 May 1911 ) was an English dramatist , librettist , poet and illustrator best known for the fourteen comic operas ( known as the Savoy operas ) produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan .
W. S. Gilbert Sir William Schwenck Gilbert ( 18 November 1836 -- 29 May 1911 ) was an English dramatist , librettist , poet and illustrator . He is best known for the comic operas ( or operettas ) that he wrote with Sir Arthur Sullivan .