Born in Michigan, USA, a lawyer, then a gold prospector in the Klondike for five years, then a writer with a successful first <a href=http://openlibrary.org/works/OL5959577W>novel</a> based on his Alaskan experience, from which several <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spoilers>films</a> were made. He also won a Olympic silver medal in water polo (<a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Beach>Wikipedia</a>).