Arthur D. Howden (Arthur Douglas Howden) Smith

Born in Brooklyn on December 29, 1887, Arthur Douglas Howden Smith was an American journalist, historian, and novelist. He left school young and went into newspaper work, later writing for the New York Evening Post and the New York Globe. Early in his career he also traveled widely, including time in the Balkans, experiences that fed his taste for action, conflict, and lived-in historical detail.

Smith became known for adventure fiction and historical novels, especially stories published in popular magazines. He wrote sea adventures, swashbucklers, and historical works, and he also published nonfiction, including biographies and histories. Among the works often associated with him are the Captain Miles McConaughy stories and the Swain the Viking novels, both of which show his fondness for bold characters, dangerous settings, and energetic storytelling.

He died on December 18, 1945. Though not as widely remembered today as some of his contemporaries, his writing still appeals to readers who enjoy classic adventure fiction with a strong sense of movement, place, and historical atmosphere.