Samuel Smiles

Born in Haddington, Scotland, in 1812, Samuel Smiles trained in medicine before moving into journalism, public life, and writing. Early in his career he was involved in reform politics, but he later became much better known for arguing that lasting progress came through character, education, perseverance, and personal effort.

His most famous book, Self-Help (1859), was a huge success and helped make him one of the best-known nonfiction writers of the Victorian period. He followed it with other influential books, including Character, Thrift, and Duty, all written in a direct, accessible style and packed with stories meant to encourage readers.

Smiles also wrote admired biographies and works on industrial and engineering history, especially celebrating inventors and engineers. He died in London in 1904, but his name still stands close to the beginning of the modern self-help genre.