O. Henry

William Sydney Porter, writing as O. Henry, was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1862. After a brief career as a pharmacist and a bank teller, he moved to Texas, where he later faced imprisonment for embezzlement. In prison, he began writing short stories to support his daughter, adopting the pseudonym O. Henry. Upon release, he moved to New York City and produced a prolific body of work, including the collections "Cabbages and Kings" (1904), "The Four Million" (1906), and "The Trimmed Lamp" (1907). His stories, such as "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Ransom of Red Chief," are celebrated for their clever twist endings, vivid characters, and compassionate portrayal of everyday life. O. Henry's influence on the American short story is enduring, and his name is honored by the annual O. Henry Award for outstanding short fiction.