The Creator of Tarzan Was Born 150 Years Ago in Chicago
Daniel Hautzinger
September 1, 2025
One hundred and fifty years ago, the writer who created Tarzan and other adventure, science fiction, and fantasy characters was born in Chicago. Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote prolifically, with more than twenty books featuring Tarzan, eleven about the Civil War veteran, John Carter, who is transported to Mars, and numerous other pulp series.
Born in Chicago on September 1, 1875 to a wealthy family, Burroughs spent much of his first several decades in the Chicago area. It took him a long time to figure things out. He left or was expelled from various schools, failed a military entrance exam, sought discharge from a stint in the U.S. Cavalry, and failed to find success in various business ventures and jobs.
Eventually he fell upon writing, turning to a literary career after publishing the first John Carter story, “Under the Moons of Mars,” to great popularity. The first Tarzan story appeared in 1912, following the son of a British lord and lady who is raised by talking apes after his family is marooned in Africa and his parents die. The character became a pop culture phenomenon whom Burroughs embraced, placing him in comic strips, radio segments, merchandise, and films – Burroughs even moved to Southern California in 1919 to be near the film industry after years of living in Chicago’s western suburb of Oak Park with his family. (John Carter has also appeared in films.)
Like a number of white intellectuals of the time, Burroughs was interested in eugenics, expressing a view in various works that criminal and other traits were hereditary. Stereotypes also appear frequently in his writing.
Burroughs became a war correspondent late in life, covering the South Pacific for the Los Angeles Times during World War II. He died in California in 1950, but his first stories and major characters were created while he lived in Chicago and Oak Park. The Oak Park Public Library has various rare books related to him in its special collections, including first editions and out-of-print materials.
