Author note: A. J. Cronin

I get the Scotsman.com's business news daily email, which always includes a Fact of the Day. Today's fact:

A J Cronin, the creator of "Doctor Finlay", was born today in 1896 at Cardross near Dumbarton. After completing his medical studies, Cronin became a Navy surgeon. He then settled in a mining area of South Wales, which was used as the setting for his novel "The Citadel", said to have been one of the inspirations for the setting up of the UK's post-war National Health Service. Other popular works were "Hatter's Castle", "The Stars Look Down" and "Keys to the Kingdom". Cronin died in 1981. To read about other famous Scots, visit heritage.scotsman.com