Person Detail: Hugh Lofting

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General Information:
Full Name: Hugh Lofting
Biography: (1886-1947) Illustrator, writer of children's stories. Hugh Lofting was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. He came to America and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1904-05 to study engineering. He returned to England complete his education at the London Polytechnic in 1906-07. He became a civil engineer and traveled through Africa, the West Indies, and Canada. But, in 1912, he gave up engineering to devote his time to writing, and settled in New York City, eventually marrying there. Lofting enlisted in the British Army in 1916 and served in Flanders and France. While on duty, separated from his family, Lofting would send home letters to his children about a doctor who could speak to his animal patients as well as his human patients. These letters eventually formed a narrative stream, which after the war, were published in 1920 as "The Story of Doctor Dolittle." The response was incredible, and Lofting began publishing a series of Dr. Dolittle books. In 1922, Lofting was awarded the John Newberry Medal for "the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children."
Author's Timeline:
1886		(Unknown) County Hugh Lofting was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, in 1886.
1912		New York County Lofting, in 1912, gave up engineering to devote his time to writing, and settled in New York City.
1920		(Unknown) County The Story of Doctor Dolittle (Pub: Frederick A. Stokes. ISBN: ) Children's book; first in a series of about a dozen Dr. Dolittle books.
1947		(Unknown) County Hugh Lofting died in Topanga, California, in 1947.
1942		(Unknown) County Victory for the Slain Long poem.
1947		(Unknown) County Hugh Lofting was interred at Evergreen Cemetery, Killingworth, Middlesex County, Connecticut.
1922		(Unknown) County The Voyages Of Doctor Dolittle (Pub: J. B. Lippincott & Co. ISBN: ) Children's book; winner of the Newbery Medal in 1923.
1928		(Unknown) County Doctor Dolittle In The Moon (Pub: J. B. Lippincott Co. ISBN: ) Children's book.
1923		(Unknown) County The Story Of Mrs. Tubbs Children's book.
1936		(Unknown) County Tommy, Tilly, and Mrs. Tubbs Children's book.
1924		(Unknown) County Porridge Poetry Children's poetry.
1929		(Unknown) County Noisy Nora Children's book.
1930		(Unknown) County The Twilight of Magic Children's book; illustrated by Lois Lenski.
1950		(Unknown) County Doctor Dolittle and the Green Canary (Pub: J. B. Lippincott & Co. ISBN: ) Children's book.