John Ronald Reuel Tolkien

     John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born January 3, 1892. He was born in Bloemfontein, South Africa to Mabel Suffield and Arthur Reuel Tolkien. When he was only four years old, his father died, leaving him, his brother Hilary, and his mother to take care of themselves. After his death, the three moved to England where Tolkien would later find inspiration for his books. He was taught by his mother and by the age of four, he was able to read. As a child he enjoyed reading and preferred the fantasy styled books over books like "The Pied Piper" and "Treasure Island". When he was twelve, his mother died and he went to live with Francis Xavier Morgan, his assigned guardian. Later he fell in love with Edith Bratt who he would later marry. They were happily married for over fifty years and had four children. Tolkien was devoted to his wife and children and would write stories for them. In 1945 he became a Merton of English Language and Literature during which time he completed "The Lord of the Rings" that he had started nearly a decade earlier. He had begun the task after recieving the request for a sequel for "The Hobbit". Initially, Tolkien had not planned for "The Hobbit" to be published until he was convinced to by Susan Dagnall of a London publishing firm. At the age of eighty-one he died, but he is still remebered for his beloved works.