Henry Mayhew was a 19th-century English social researcher, journalist, and playwright, best known for his work on the lives of the poor in London. He co-founded the magazine Punch and wrote extensively about the conditions faced by the working class, particularly in his influential series of articles titled "London Labour and the London Poor." Mayhew's writings provided detailed accounts of various occupations and the struggles of the urban poor, highlighting issues such as poverty, labor, and social injustice. His work is considered a significant contribution to social reform and helped raise awareness about the plight of the underprivileged in Victorian England.