T. W. (Thomas William) Doane

Thomas William Doane was an American writer best known for Bible Myths and Their Parallels in Other Religions, first published in 1882. Library and public-domain records consistently identify him as T. W. Doane and date him to 1852–1885.

That book set out to compare stories and miracles from the Old and New Testaments with similar traditions from older religions and mythologies. It was an ambitious work of comparative religion, packed with references and notes, and it helped give Doane a lasting place among readers interested in freethought, biblical criticism, and the history of religious ideas.

Reliable biographical detail about his personal life is scarce in the sources I could confirm, so most of what survives publicly centers on his writing rather than his day-to-day life. Even so, his major book has remained in circulation through libraries, reprints, and digital editions, which shows the continuing interest in his skeptical and research-driven approach.