BUCHAN, JOHN (1875-1940), British author and states man, was born at Perth, Scotland, Aug. 26, 1875. Educated at Glasgow university and Brasenose college, Oxford, he was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 19o1. In the same year he became private secretary to Lord Milner, then high commissioner for South Africa. In 1903 he returned to England, and soon became a member of the publishing firm of Thomas Nelson and Sons, Edinburgh. During the World War he served on the staff at Brit ish headquarters, and in 1917 became director of information un der Mr. Lloyd George. He was member of parliament for the Scottish Universities from 1927 till 1935, when he was appointed governor-general of Canada and was raised to the peerage, taking the title of Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield. He was created a Com panion of Honour in 1932 and G.C.M.G. in 1935, and in 1937 was sworn a member of the privy council. He was Lord High Com missioner to the Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1933 and and in 1937 was elected chancellor of Edinburgh university. As a novelist he was known for such brilliant tales of adventure as The Thirty-Nine Steps (1915) ; Greenmantle (1916) ; and Mr. Stand f ast (1919) ; and he also wrote A History of the Great War (1921-22); Augustus (193 7) , etc. He died Feb. I 1, 194o.