Sam Hield Hamer facts for kids

Sam Hield Hamer (born July 27, 1869 – died February 6, 1941) was a talented English writer and editor. He was best known for writing books for children. He also wrote popular travel stories about different places he visited.

Early Life and School

Sam Hamer was born in Islington, England. His father, John Hamer, was a Justice of the Peace, which meant he helped keep law and order. Sam's mother, Sarah Sharp Hamer, was also a writer.

Sam went to the City of London School. In 1886, when he was still at school, the students held a pretend election. Sam was chosen to lead the Liberal government in this mock election.

The home of the City of London School when Sam Hamer was a student

Working with Books

After leaving school in 1886, Sam Hamer started working for a publishing company called Cassell and Company. He worked his way up and joined the team that edited books and magazines. He stayed with Cassell until 1907.

From 1895 to 1907, he was the editor of a children's magazine called Little Folks. He was also known for helping to discover a famous illustrator named Arthur Rackham. Sometimes, Sam Hamer wrote under a different name, Sam Browne.

Between 1897 and 1906, Sam Hamer worked closely with another illustrator, Harry B. Neilson. They created many books together.

Protecting England's Heritage

Sam Hamer cared a lot about saving beautiful parts of the British countryside and important historical places. He worked for the National Trust for 23 years, from 1911 to 1934. The National Trust is an organization that protects special places for everyone to enjoy.

As secretary of the National Trust, Sam Hamer helped raise a lot of money, about £35,000. This money was used to buy the land around the famous ancient monument, Stonehenge. During his time, the number of properties protected by the National Trust grew from 40 to 250!

Writing for Children

Sam Hamer was very good at writing stories that children loved. In 1913, someone reviewing his book The Bran Pie said that he "probably understands the taste of children in literature as well as anyone now living."

He also wrote a travel book called The Dolomites in 1910. This book was about the mountain-climbing adventures of a family. In the 1920s, he even wrote letters to the famous children's author, Beatrix Potter.

Sam Hamer passed away on February 6, 1941, in Tufnell Park, Middlesex.

Selected Books by Sam Hamer

Here are some of the books Sam Hamer wrote:

• Micky Magee's Menagerie, or, Strange animals and their doings (1897) – illustrated by Harry B. Neilson
• Whys and Other Whys, or, Curious Creatures and Their Tales (1898) – illustrated by Harry B. Neilson
• The Jungle School; or Dr. Jibber-Jabber Burchall's Academy (1900) – illustrated by H. B. Neilson
• Peter Piper's Feepshow (1900) – illustrated by H. B. Neilson and Lewis Baumer
• Topsy-Turvy Tales, or The Exception Proves the Rule (1901) – illustrated by Harry B. Neilson
• The Ten Travellers, and other tales in prose and verse (1902) – illustrated by H. B. Neilson
• Archibald's Amazing Adventure, Or, The Tip-top Tale (1905) – illustrated by Harry Rountree
• The Forst Foundling (1909)
• The Dolomites (1910)
• The Bran Pie (1913)
• Escuela de Animales (1942) – illustrated by Harry B. Neilson