The name "Frank Richards" was just one of the pseudonyms of Charles Harold St John Hamilton. He was born in Ealing, Middlesex, England on August 8, 1876. The most prolific boys' fiction author of all time (you'll find him listed in the Guinness Book of Records), Charles attended a local private school, Thorne House, His first story was said to have been written in 1885, possibly for one of the Trapps Holmes boys' story papers. Using in excess of 20 pen-names, he wrote not only school stories but, adventure, travel, crime - every genre imaginable. He is best known for his creation of Billy Bunter, the world's fattest student. Richards wrote stories with the character in 1908 for The Magnet Library, which were illustrated by Hutton Mitchell. The 'Billy Bunter' comic appeared from 1939 in Knock-Out Comics, and was illustrated by C.H. Chapman and later by such artists as Frank Minnitt, Reg Parlett, Arthur Martin, Les Barton and A.T. Pease.
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