Kingston, William Henry Giles (1814–1880)

English writer. He became one of the most popular authors of adventure stories for children. Peter the Whaler 1851 was followed by about 130 more stories over the next 30 years.

Among them were From Powder Monkey to Admiral, which ran as a serial in the Boy's Own Paper, The Three Midshipmen 1862, The Three Lieutenants 1874, The Three Commanders 1875, and The Three Admirals 1877.

Kingston was born in London, the son of a merchant who lived in Oporto, Portugal. He wrote articles for the Portuguese newspapers, which helped conclude a commercial treaty between England and Portugal, for which he received a Portuguese knighthood. Encouraged by the success of his first adventure story, he retired from business to devote himself to writing. He also ran several papers, including The Colonist and The Colonial Magazine and East India Review, and was interested in emigration and various philanthropic schemes.