Arthur Henry "Sarsfield" Ward (15 February 1883 - 1 June 1959), better known as Sax Rohmer, was an English novelist. He is best remembered for his series of novels featuring the master criminal Dr. Fu Manchu. Born in Birmingham to working class Irish parents William Ward (c. 1850-1932), a clerk, and Margaret Mary (née Furey; c. 1850-1901), Arthur Ward initially pursued a career as a civil servant before concentrating on writing full-time. He worked as a poet, songwriter and comedy sketch writer for music hall performers before creating the Sax Rohmer persona and pursuing a career writing fiction.