Frank Thomas Bullen (1857–1915), British author and novelist, was born of poor parents in Paddington, London, on 5 April 1857. At the age of 9 he left school and took up work as an errand boy. He led a roving and adventurous life, and many of the most thrilling episodes in his books were records of his own experiences. After various adventures on shore he went to sea in 1869, and for some years roughed it in various capacities in the merchant service, suffering great hardships, as vividly described in 'The Log of a Sea Waif' and other books. In 1883 he became a clerk in the Meteorological Office until 1889. His reputation was made over the publication of The Cruise of the " Cachelot" (1906); and he also wrote, amongst other books, Idylls of the Sea (1899); Sea Wrack (1903); The Call of the Deep (1907) and A Compleat Sea Cook (1912), besides many articles and essays. He died on March 1, 1915.