James Payn, English novelist, was born February 28, 1830, in Cheltenham, England, the son of a government official. He was educated at Eton, at Woolwich Academy, and at Cambridge, being graduated in 1852. He became editor of Chambers' Journal in 1858, and of the Cornbill Magazine in 1883, resigning from the latter in 1896. His first book length novel, "The Foster Brothers," was published in 1859, and after that they appeared regularly at the rate of two or three a year until his death in London, March 25, 1898. In all he wrote about a hundred novels, and many poems, stories and sketches.

REFERENCES: Allibone, Dict. Eng. Lit., II, and Supplement, II; Kunitz and Haycraft, British Authors, New York, 1936, 492; Anon., "Personal Character of James Payn," Literary Digest, XVI, June 4, 1898, 669-70, with portrait.

Fireside Library. Nos. 95, 110, 119, 127, 130, 132
Waverley Library (quarto). Nos. 127, 270, 218, 224