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Alan Villiers | |
|---|---|
 Alan Villiers aboard the Grace Harwar in 1929 | |
| Born | Alan John Villiers 23 September 1903 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 3 March 1982 (aged 78) Oxford, Oxfordshire, England |
| Occupation | journalist, sailor, author |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Citizenship | Australian / British |
| Years active | 1928-1965 |
| Notable works | Whalers of the Midnight Sun |
| Notable awards | Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers 1950 |
Alan John Villiers, DSC (23 September 1903 – 3 March 1982) was a writer, adventurer, photographer and mariner.
Born in Melbourne, Australia, Villiers first went to sea at age 15 and sailed on board traditionally rigged vessels, including the full-rigged ship Joseph Conrad. He commanded square-rigged ships for films, including Moby Dick and Billy Budd. He also commanded the Mayflower II on its voyage from the United Kingdom to the United States.[1]
Villiers wrote 44 books, and served as the Chairman (1960–70) and President (1970-74) of the Society for Nautical Research, a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, and Governor of the Cutty Sark Preservation Society. He was awarded the British Distinguished Service Cross as a Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War.
- ^ "Alan Villiers". Oxford Index. Retrieved 13 July 2013.