Irwin Allen Ginsberg (June 3, 1926 – April 5, 1997) was an American poet and writer, and a prominent figure in the Beat Generation of the 1950s. He formed deep connections with Lucien Carr, William S. Burroughs, and Jack Kerouac while a student at Columbia University, creating the foundation of the Beat Generation. Ginsberg was known for his vehement opposition to militarism, economic materialism, and sexual repression, reflecting a counterculture that embraced drugs, sex, multiculturalism, anti-bureaucracy, and openness to Eastern philosophies.

Ginsberg's most famous work, Howl, criticized the destructive forces of capitalism and conformity in the United States. The publication of "Howl" in 1956 led to an obscenity trial in 1957, which garnered widespread attention due to its explicit language and descriptions of both heterosexual and homosexual sex. The trial highlighted Ginsberg's own sexuality and his relationships with men, including his lifelong partner, Peter Orlovsky. The landmark ruling deemed "Howl" not obscene, affirming the freedom of press and speech.

A dedicated Buddhist, Ginsberg deeply engaged with Eastern religious disciplines. He led a modest lifestyle, opting for second-hand clothing and living in New York City's East Village. One of his most influential mentors was Tibetan Buddhist Chögyam Trungpa, founder of the Naropa Institute (now Naropa University) in Boulder, Colorado. Alongside poet Anne Waldman, he co-founded The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Trungpa's behest in 1974.

Ginsberg actively participated in non-violent political protests, from the Vietnam War to the war on drugs. His poem "September on Jessore Road" highlighted the plight of Bangladeshi refugees, showcasing his continuous fight against imperial politics and the persecution of the powerless. His collection The Fall of America won the National Book Award in 1974. In 1979, he received the National Arts Club gold medal and was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 1995 for Cosmopolitan Greetings: Poems 1986–1992.