Gandalf

Gandalf was one of the Istari, or Wizards that came to Middle-earth in 1000 of the Third Age to help the Free Peoples in their fight against Sauron.  They are a race of Maiar.  Gandalf himself had many names.  In his earlier days he was called Olórin, which means "dreams" in the Quenya elvish language.  The Elves had also always called him Mithrandir, meaning "grey pilgrim" in the Sindarin elvish tongue.  He was called Incanus in the South and Tharkun by the Dwarves.  He was very wise and good friends with Aragorn, Frodo, and Bilbo.  He was the leader of the Fellowship until he fell in Khazad-dum.  He was then transformed into Gandalf the White and led the Rohirrim to Battle at Helm's Deep.  He was also great friends with Shadowfax, the lord of all horses, whom no other person could touch.  He bore the ring Narya the Great with he red stone. He sailed across the sea in 1541 of the Shire reckoning with the rest of the ring bearers., save Sam, who came later. 

"The letters are Elvish, of an ancient mode, but the language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here.  But this in the common tongue is what is said, close enough:....

Three rings for the Elven-Kings under the sky,

Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,

Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,

One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie."-Gandalf (FoTR)

"Even the most subtle spiders may leave a weak thread."-Gandalf

"All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."-Gandalf