Frank Thomas Bullen (1857-1915), British novelist, was born in London and was educated for a few years at a dame school and Westbourne school, Paddington. At the age of 9 he left school and took up work as an errand boy. In 1869 he went to sea and travelled to all parts of the world in various capacities including that of chief mate. In 1883 he became a clerk in the Meteorological Office until 1889. His reputation was made over the publication of The Cruise of the "Cachalot": Round the World After Sperm Whales (1906), and he also wrote, amongst other books, Idylls of the Sea (1899), Sea-Wrack (1903), The Call of the Deep (1907) and A Compleat Sea Cook (1912), besides many articles and essays. Amongst his other works are: The Log of a Sea-Waif (1899), The Men of the Merchant Service (1900), The Apostles of the South East (1901), A Sack of Shakings (1901), Deep- Sea Plunderings (1901), With Christ at Sea: A Religious Autobiography (1901), A Whaleman's Wife (1902), Sea Spray (1906), The Call of the Deep (1907) and Young Nemesis (1908).