Augustus Thomas

Born in St. Louis on January 8, 1857, he worked a range of jobs before turning fully to writing, including railroad work and newspaper journalism. Those practical, everyday experiences fed the direct, distinctly American quality that became a hallmark of his plays.

His breakthrough came with Alabama in 1891, and he went on to write many successful stage works, including In Mizzoura and Arizona. Reference works describe him as an important figure in the development of American theatre because he favored American characters and subjects at a time when the stage often leaned more heavily on European models.

He remained a prominent voice in theatre for decades and published memoirs later in life. He died on August 12, 1934, near Nyack, New York.