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Sir James Matthew Barrie
(1860 - 1937) Scotland

James Barrie

Playwright, novelist

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Sir James M. Barrie was a gay author, born in Kirriemuir, Angus. Barrie attended Edinburgh University, then he entered journalism in Nottingham in 1883, but lost his job after writing a piece extolling the delights of "Pretty Boys". Thus, settled in London in 1885. He became known by his sudies of Scottish rural life. He was made a baronett in 1913 abd received the Order of Merit in 1922.

He wrote the children's classic Peter Pan. Barrie was married in 1894, but the marriage was never consumated... "but, then, Barrie never consumated any relationship with anyone, including his strange friendship with the three Davies boys." As their father died he became a surrogate father, and after their mother died he effectively adopted the boys.

Further tragedy followed - his beloved George Davies, only five years old when they first met, and the great love of Barrie's life, was killed in action at Flanders in 1915, and his adored Michael drowned with an Oxford friend while swimming in the Thames.

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