Charles FortCharles Hoy Fort was an American author and researcher who focused on anomalous events. He lived from August 6, 1874, until May 3, 1932. Various similar occurrences are occasionally referred to as "Fortean" or "Forteana." Fort's novels had a successfl run and are still available. His work has inspired various elements of science fiction and continues to inspire followers who call themselves "Forteans." He was raised in an authoritarian household and as a young child, he became quite independent. He was an autodidact who gained most of his knowledge about the world via significant personal reading. Fort intended to become a naturalist when he was a young adult and started collecting minerals, seashells, and birds. He wed Anna Filing in 1896 and lived in squalor while penning articles for periodicals. He started gathering reports of abnormalities in 1906. Fort had a cult following thanks to his Wild Talents books, but he considered it "hilarious" and "surprised" to be the object of such adoration. Fort mistrusted medical professionals and resisted getting treatment for his deteriorating condition. On May 3, 1932, Fort fell ill and was sent to the Royal Hospital in London, where he passed away the same day, a few hours later. He gave the New York Public Library more than 60,000 of his notes. Read More Read Less