Edward Lear (1812-88) wrote the poem 'The Owl and the Pussy Cat' (1871). He was born in London and was the youngest of 21 children. Here is a relevant snipet of his poem which relates to the question:

"Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl!

How charmingly sweet you sing!

O let us be married, too long we have tarried

But what shall we do for a ring?"

(They sailed away for a year and a day,

To the land where the Bong-tree grows)

And there in a wood, a Piggy-wig stood

With a ring at the end of his nose,

His nose, His nose,

With a ring at the end of his nose."

Edward Lear was educated at home by his sister Ann who was twenty-one years his senior. He suffered from asthma, bronchitis, depression and epilepsy, so he decided to draw to earn a living. He became a highly acclaimed artist and was employed by the British Museum and the Zoological Society of London, where he made drawings of the parrots in their collection. He later worked at Knowsley Park, near Liverpool, where he drew more birds. In 1846, his famous 'A Book of Nonsense' was published. Since his death in 1888, his remarkable talent as an artist has risen steadily.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org