St. John Hankin

Born on September 25, 1869, St. John Emile Clavering Hankin was an English essayist and playwright associated with the Edwardian "New Drama." His work is often grouped with that of George Bernard Shaw, John Galsworthy, and Harley Granville-Barker, and he became known for intelligent, satirical plays that observed the manners and pressures of his time.

Hankin wrote a small but notable body of stage work, including comedies that earned success during his lifetime. His career was cut short when he died on June 15, 1909, at just 39 years old.

After his death, much of his writing slipped from view for decades. Later revivals brought renewed attention to his plays and restored his reputation as a distinctive voice in early 20th-century British theatre.