(1819-1891) US writer. His novel Moby-Dick 1851 was inspired by his whaling experiences in the South Seas and is considered to be one of the masterpieces of American literature. These experiences were also the basis for earlier fiction, such as the adventure narratives of Typee 1846 and Omoo 1847. Billy Budd, Sailor was completed just before his death and published 1924. Although most of his works were unappreciated during his lifetime, today he is one of the most highly regarded of US authors.
Melville was born in Albany, New York. His family was left destitute when his father became bankrupt and died when Melville was 12. He went to sea as a cabin boy 1839. His love for the sea was inspired by this and later voyages. He published several volumes of verse, as well as short stories (The Piazza Tales 1856). He worked in the New York customs office 1866–85, writing no prose from 1857 until Billy Budd. A friend of Nathaniel Hawthorne, he explored the dark, troubled side of American experience in novels of unusual form and great philosophical power.
He died in obscurity. Moby-Dick was filmed by John Huston in 1956. Billy Budd was the basis of an opera by Benjamin Britten 1951, which was made into a film 1962.

Viscount Melville (1742-1811) British Tory politician, born in Edinburgh. He entered Parliament 1774, and as home secretary 1791–94 persecuted the parliamentary reformers. His impeachment for malversation (misconduct) 1806 was the last in English history.

Množina: Melvilles

1. Town in Louisiana (USA); zip code 71353.
2. Unincorporated community in New York (USA).
3. Unincorporated community in Rhode Island (USA).

Množina: Melville Islands

Island N Canada in Parry Islands area over 16,250 square miles (42,088 square kilometers)

Množina: Melville Peninsulas

Peninsula Canada in Nunavut between Foxe Basin and an arm of Gulf of Boothia.