Samuel Merwin

Samuel Merwin, Sr. (October 6, 1874 – October 17, 1936) was an American writer, including novelist and playwright. Merwin was born on October 6, 1874, in Evanston, Illinois, to Ella B. and Orlando H. Merwin. His father was the postmaster of Evanston.

In 1901, Merwin married Edna Earl Fleshiem. The couple had two sons, Samuel Kimball Merwin, Jr. and Banister Merwin and one adopted son, John Merwin.

After attending Northwestern University, he worked between 1905 and 1911 as associate editor and then editor of Success magazine. In 1907, the magazine sent him to China to investigate the China's opium trade.