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Born in New York in 1856, Frank Baum had his first best-selling children's book with 1899's Father Goose, His Book. The following year, Baum scored an even bigger hit with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and went on to write 13 more Oz books before his death in 1919. His stories have formed the basis for such popular films as The Wizard of Oz (1939) and Oz the Great and Powerful (2013).
Lyman Frank Baum was born on May 15, 1856, in Chittenango, New York. In 1900, Frank Baum wrote one of the most famous works of children's literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, later known as The Wizard of Oz. He enjoyed a comfortable upbringing as the son of a barrel factory owner who also had some success in the oil business. Named "Lyman" after an uncle, Baum hated his first name and chose to be called by his middle name "Frank" instead.
Baum's education began with tutors at home in his early years. At the age of 12, he went to the Peekskill Military Academy. Baum left the school after a health crisis two years later, apparently suffering from some type of heart condition. Never earning a high school degree, he spent his early adulthood exploring his interest in acting and writing for the stage.
Brief Biography
- Date of Birth:
- May 15, 1856
- Date of Death:
- May 6, 1919
- Place of Birth:
- Chittenango, New York
- Place of Death:
- Hollywood, California
- Education:
- Attended Peekskill Military Academy and Syracuse Classical School
