Barrie peter pan biography

James Matthew Barrie was born in the small town of Kirriemuir, Scotland on 9 May 1860.

He was the ninth child of 10 born to David Barrie, a hand-loom weaver and his wife, Margaret Ogilvy.

Tragedy struck when Barrie's older brother, David, died after a skating accident just before his 14th birthday.

In a desperate attempt to console his grieving mother, young James tried to take David's place, hoping to earn her affection by becoming the son she’d lost.

Barrie peter pan biography wikipedia

While his mother found some comfort in the idea that David would always be a boy, Barrie found inspiration.

The idea of eternal childhood stuck with Barrie, inspiring his famous play, Peter Pan.

After studying at the University of Edinburgh, Barrie moved to London. There he met the three eldest Llewelyn Davies boys, George, five, Jack, four, and baby