A BECKETT, GILBERT ARTHUR, eldest son of Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (qv); b. 7 Apr 1837; adm. 6 Jun 1849 (G); QS 1851; elected to Christ Church, Oxford 1855, matr. 7 Jun 1855, Westminster Student; BA 1860; adm. Lincoln’s Inn 15 Oct 1857; a clerk in the office of the Examiners of Criminal Law Accounts 1862-5; one of the principal contributors to Punch, and author of numerous libretti and dramatic pieces; joint author with W. S. Gilbert of the famous burlesque The Happy Land, performed at the Court Theatre 3 Mar 1873; Roman Catholic convert 1869; m. 24 Nov 1863 Emily, eldest dau. of William Hunt, Bath, Somerset; d. 15 Oct 1891. DNB.