Robert W. (Robert William) Service

Born in Preston, England, in 1874 and raised largely in Scotland, Robert W. Service later moved to Canada, where his experiences in British Columbia and the Yukon helped shape the writing that made him famous. He worked for the Canadian Bank of Commerce before finding a voice that connected with a wide audience through lively ballads and narrative poems.

He is especially remembered for Songs of a Sourdough and for beloved poems such as The Shooting of Dan McGrew and The Cremation of Sam McGee. Often called the "Bard of the Yukon," he wrote in a direct, memorable style that brought gold-rush settings and larger-than-life characters vividly to life.

Service went on to write novels, memoir, and additional poetry, and spent later years in Europe, dying in France in 1958. Even when critics were divided about his literary standing, readers never lost their affection for his storytelling, rhythm, and sense of adventure.