Editing Major-General's Song (section)

==Historical basis==
The character of Major-General Stanley was widely taken to be a caricature of the popular general [[Garnet Wolseley, 1st Viscount Wolseley|Sir Garnet Wolseley]]. The biographer Michael Ainger, however, doubts that Gilbert intended a caricature of Wolseley, identifying instead the older General Henry Turner, an uncle of Gilbert's wife whom Gilbert disliked, as a more likely inspiration for the satire. Nevertheless, in the original London production, [[George Grossmith]] imitated Wolseley's mannerisms and appearance, particularly his large moustache, and the audience recognised the allusion.<ref>Ainger, pp. 182</ref> Wolseley himself, according to his biographer, took no offence at the identification<ref>{{cite book |last=Kochanski |first=Halik |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rppyEHJfWhwC&pg=PA73 |title=Sir Garnet Wolseley: Victorian hero |page=73 |location=London |publisher=Hambledon Press |year=1999 |isbn=1-85285-188-0 |access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref> and sometimes sang "I am the very model of a modern Major-General" for the private amusement of his family and friends.<ref>Bradley (1996), p. 118</ref>