W. N. P. Barbellion ( Bruce Frederick Cummings)(1889-1919) was a naturalist by profession working at the Natural History Museum. He suffered ill-health from childhood, and, when rejected for active service in the First World War, discovered he was suffering from what is now known as multiple sclerosis.

His distinctive pseudonym was created in the following way. The initials stood for three people he deemed failures: W(ilhelm) N(ero) P(ilate), and the surname, Barbellion, was taken from a sweetshop in Bond Street.