Robert W. Service: A Remarkable Life

Early Years and Family Robert William Service, a beloved English poet, came into the world on January 16, 1874, in Preston, Lancashire, England. He was the first of ten children born to his parents. His father, Robert Service Sr., originally hailed from Kilwinning, a historic Scottish town, where he worked as a banker. However, he later relocated to England. When Robert was just five years old, he moved to Kilwinning to live with his maiden aunts, where his paternal grandfather served as a postmaster. It was in Kilwinning that young Robert penned his very first poem at the tender age of six. At the age of nine, Robert returned to live with his parents in Glasgow, Scotland, and commenced his education at Hillhead High School. Poetry and Banking After completing his high school education, he embarked on a career with the Commercial Bank of Scotland, which would later become the Royal Bank of Scotland. During this time, he dabbled in poetry and even managed to sell some of his poems. Service…