James Henry Daugherty was raised in Indiana, Ohio, until age 9 when he moved to Washington, D.C.. He studied at the Corcoran School of Art, and later under Frank Brangwyn in London. During World War I, he was produced propaganda posters for various U.S. Government agencies. Daugherty wrote and illustrated several children's books during his career. He won the Caldecott Honor in 1939 for Andy and the Lion, the Newbery Medal in 1940 for Daniel Boone, the Caldecott Honor in 1957 for Gillespie and the Guards.