Samuel Butler (1835–1902)
Samuel Butler (1835-1902) was an English novelist, essayist, and critic, known for his satirical and utopian works that often challenged Victorian societal norms and religious dogma. He initially trained for the clergy but ultimately pursued a career as a sheep farmer in New Zealand before returning to England to focus on writing and painting. Butler is perhaps best known for his novel "Erewhon," a satirical utopia exploring themes of evolution, machine intelligence, and social structure, which he published anonymously.