Herriot, James (1916-1995), was the pen name of James Alfred Wight, a British veterinarian and author. He became known for stories based on his work as a country veterinarian. Many of the stories are collected in the books All Creatures Great and Small (1972), All Things Bright and Beautiful (1974), All Things Wise and Wonderful (1977), and The Lord God Made Them All (1981).
Herriot was born on Oct. 3, 1916, in Glasgow, Scotland. After graduating from Glasgow Veterinary College in 1937, he set up a practice in the county of North Yorkshire, England. Herriot traveled from farm to farm caring for cows, horses, and sheep. His experiences with both animals and people became the basis for his writings.
Herriot began writing at the age of 50. His James Herriot’s Yorkshire (1979) includes photographs and descriptions of the rural area that forms the setting for his books. He died on Feb. 23, 1995.
