James Herriot
| James Alfred Wight | |
|---|---|
| Born |
3 October 1916 Sunderland, County Durham, England |
| Died | 23 February 1995 (aged 78) Thirlby, North Yorkshire, England |
| Pen name | James Herriot |
| Occupation | Veterinary surgeon, author |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | MRCVS |
| Alma mater | Glasgow Veterinary College |
| Period | 1940–1995 |
| Subject | autobiographical, memoirs |
| Spouse | Joan Catherine Anderson Danbury (1941–his death) |
| Children | James Alexander Wight Rosemary Page |
| Relatives | James Henry Wight (father) Hannah Bell Wight (mother) |
James Alfred "Alf" Wight, OBE, FRCVS (3 October 1916 – 23 February 1995), known by the pen name James Herriot, was a British veterinary surgeon and writer, who used his many years of experiences as a veterinary surgeon to write a series of books each consisting of stories about animals and their owners. He is best known for these semi-autobiographical works, beginning with All Creatures Great and Small in 1972. The British television series adapted from the books is also titled All Creatures Great and Small.
James Alfred Wight was born on 3 October 1916, in Sunderland, County Durham, England, to James (1890–1960) and Hannah Bell (1890–1980) Wight. Shortly after their wedding, the Wights moved from Brandling Street, Sunderland to Glasgow in Scotland, where James took work as both a ship plater and pianist for a local cinema, while Hannah was a singer, as well as a dressmaker. For Alf's birth, his mother returned to Sunderland, bringing him back to Glasgow when he was three weeks old. He attended Yoker Primary School and Hillhead High School. From his father he gained a passion for Sunderland Football Club and remained a lifelong fan. In 1992 he was named a Life President of the club.
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow Veterinary College. In January 1940, he took a brief job at a veterinary practice in Sunderland, but moved in July to work in a rural practice based at 23 Kirkgate in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire, close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. On 5 November 1941, he married Joan Catherine Anderson Danbury, known as Helen Alderson in his books, at St Mary's Church, Thirsk. The couple had two children, James Alexander (Jim), born 13 February 1943, who also became a vet and was a partner in the practice, and Rosemary (Rosie), born 1947, who became a physician in general practice.
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