Charles Dibdin (before 4 March 1745 – 25 July 1814) was a British musician, songwriter, dramatist, novelist and actor. The son of a parish clerk , he was privately baptised on 4 March 1745 in Southampton and is often stated to be the youngest child of 18 born to a 50-year-old mother. He is best known as the composer of the song Poor Tom Bowling (often simply called Tom Bowling), which often features at the Last Night of the Proms.