Gavin Maxwell was born on July 15, 1914 in House of Elrig, Mochrum, Wigtownshire, Scotland, UK. He was a writer, known for Ring of Bright Water (1969), Ring of Bright Water (2013) and Take Thirty (1962). He was married to Lavinia Jean Lascelles. He died on September 7, 1969 in Inverness, Inverness-shire, Scotland, UK.
He is buried beside the ruins of his cottage in Sandaig, near Glenelg, Inverness-shire, Scotland, which he called Camusfeàrna in his book "Ring of Bright Water".
Served in the British army during World War II as an officer in the Scots Guards, then as an executive officer in Special Operations until 1944, when he was wounded and received a medical discharge.