The original is attributed to Edward Lear; it was documented by one of his cartoons in 1872:
"There was an old man of Thermopylae,
Who never did anything properly;
But they said, "If you choose to boil eggs in your shoes,
You shall never remain in Thermopylae."
But I object to the repetition of Thermopylae. Not a kosher Limerick. Needs to be corrected:
There was an old man of Thermopylae,
Who never did anything properly;
But he said, "If I choose to boil eggs in my shoes,
For the method I'll have a monopoly.
There. Much better.