<P> The character of Major - General Stanley was widely taken to be a caricature of the popular general Sir Garnet Wolseley . The biographer Michael Ainger, however, doubts that Gilbert intended a caricature of Wolseley, identifying instead General Henry Turner, uncle of Gilbert's wife, as the pattern for the "modern Major - General". Gilbert disliked Turner, who, unlike the progressive Wolseley, was of the old school of officers . Nevertheless, in the original London production, George Grossmith imitated Wolseley's mannerisms and appearance, particularly his large moustache, and the audience recognised the allusion . Wolseley himself, according to his biographer, took no offence at the caricature and sometimes sang "I am the very model of a modern Major - General" for the private amusement of his family and friends . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Major - General's Song George Baker sings the Major - General's Song with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, conducted by Malcolm Sargent (1929) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file? See media help . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Major - General's Song George Baker sings the Major - General's Song with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, conducted by Malcolm Sargent (1929) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file? See media help . </Td> </Tr>

Hms pinafore lyrics i am the very model