Shel Silverstein was born September 25, 1930. He lived in Chicago, Illinois. He began writing at age 12. No poets at this time really inspired his poems and other writings, he created his own strategy and way of writing. An interesting fact about Shel Silverstein was that he served in the military in the Korean War. While he was in Korea he worked as a cartoonist for Pacific Stars and Stripes. At age 69, Shel Silverstein passed away on May 10, 1999. People of all ages still enjoy his books, poems, and songs today.