L. Ron Hubbard.

Ledora May Hubbard gave birth to L. Ron Hubbard on 13 March 1911 in Tilden, Nebraska. He attended both Helena High School in Montana and Queen Anne High School in Washington before studying at George Washington University. These educational experiences across several states exposed him to diverse environments that later informed his writing career.

In the 1930s, Hubbard wrote the serial The Secret of Treasure Island 1938, which was adapted into a film. He later authored the novel Battlefield Earth, which became a 2000 film starring John Travolta. In 1954, he founded the Church of Scientology, an organization that grew to have millions of members worldwide. He also directed and appeared in the instructional film How the E-Meter Works 1976 and appeared in documentaries including Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief 2015.

Hubbard married three times: first to Margaret Louise Grubb from 13 April 1933 until their divorce on 24 December 1947; then to Sara Northrup from 10 August 1946 until their divorce on 13 June 1951; and finally to Mary Sue Whipp from 30 October 1952 until his death on 24 January 1986. He had four children: Quentin Hubbard, Ronald DeWolf, Diana Hubbard, and Alexis Hubbard. His mother, Ledora May Hubbard, influenced his early life.

Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology in 1954, establishing a new religious movement that sparked considerable controversy and public interest. His science fiction works, including Battlefield Earth, continue to be discussed by readers and adapted into other media. He received the Ig Nobel Prize and the Cosmos 2000 Award. He is best remembered as the founder of the Church of Scientology and a prolific author.