Francis Worcester Doughty

Born in Brooklyn on November 5, 1850, Francis Worcester Doughty was an American novelist and screenwriter whose work reached a wide popular audience. He is especially associated with dime novels, the inexpensive adventure stories that were hugely popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Doughty wrote stories for publisher Frank Tousey, including entries in the long-running Old King Brady detective series. His fiction was part of the lively world of serialized popular literature, where mystery, action, and cliffhangers kept readers coming back for the next installment.

He died on October 30, 1917. Although he is not as widely remembered as some literary figures of his time, his work offers a vivid glimpse into the tastes of everyday readers and the rise of mass-market storytelling in America.