John Polidori was an English writer and physician, best known for his short story "The Vampyre," published in 1819. He was born on September 7, 1795, in London and studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Polidori became the personal physician to the famous poet Lord Byron. Polidori's work is significant in the development of the vampire genre in literature. "The Vampyre" introduced the character of the aristocratic vampire, influencing later works, including Bram Stoker's "Dracula." He died on August 24, 1821, at the young age of 25, leaving a lasting impact on Gothic fiction.