James Matthew Barrie was born in Kirriemuir on May 9, 1860, the ninth child of ten to parents David, a hand-loom weaver, and Margaret Ogilvie Barrie.
Heavily influenced by his mother's love of art and literature, Barrie went on to become a student of the University of Edinburgh before a two year spell writing for newspapers, as both a critic and a reporter.
Determined to become an author, Barrie returned to Kirriemuir, where he would pen a story based on the tales told to him about the town by his mother. He forwarded the piece to the editor of a London newspaper, who liked it so much he asked for more.
The stories - which were set in the fictional village called Thrums, based on Kirriemuir - would go on to form the basis of his first books, Auld Licht Idylls (1888), A Window in Thrums (1890) and The Little Minister (1891).
However, it was his creation of Peter Pan that would elevate Barrie's status to new heights. Peter made his first appearance in the 1902 book, The Little White Bird, a story for adults, but it wasn't until 1904 he made his début for the stage, in Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.
The tales of Peter's adventures became incredibly popular with children and families alike, but it still came as a surprise when Barrie presented all rights to the character to the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in 1929.
But Barrie's talents extended far beyond Peter Pan and some of the writer's other works received widespread critical acclaim, including Dear Brutus, The Boy David, Quality Street and The Old Lady Shows Her Medals.
The Kirriemuir author was recognised for his work in 1913, when he received a baronetcy and in 1922, when he received the Order of Merit. He was also elected Rector of the University of St Andrew's in 1919 and served as Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh from 1930 to 1937.
Barrie died from pneumonia in London on June 19, 1937. He was 77 years old.
The nation's mood of his passing was summed up in a message of sympathy from the King George IV, who said: "His loss will be universally mourned, for his writing has brought joy and inspiration to young and old alike."
He is buried alongside his parents and two of his siblings in Kirriemuir Cemetery.