William Hope Hodgson was an English author and poet, born on November 15, 1877, in Plymouth. He is best known for his contributions to the genres of horror and weird fiction. Hodgson's most famous works include The House on the Borderland and The Night Land, which explore themes of cosmic horror and the unknown. His writing often reflects his fascination with the sea and the supernatural. In addition to his literary career, Hodgson served in the British Army during World War I, where he was killed in action on April 19, 1918. Despite his relatively short life, his influence on later writers, including H.P. Lovecraft, is significant, and he is remembered as a pioneer of weird fiction.