John Ryan; Edinburgh, Scotland
John Ryan was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Aged 7, he wrote his first book 'Adventures of Tommy Brown' and sold it to his mother for two pennies.

After service in Burma he went to study at the Regent Street Polytechnic. Ryan created the character Captain Pugwash in 1950 for The Eagle. He was also the creator of 'Harris Tweed, Extra Special Agent', a would-be private eye, and Lettice Leefe, the Greenest Girl in School (for Girl magazine), but 'Captain Horation Pugwash' was his most endearing character.

Although listed as an illustrator, John Ryan has written and illustrated 20 books such as The Very Hungry Lions, Mamel and the Tower of Babel and Giantkiller.