Leslie Charteris (May 12 1907, Singapore - April 15 1993) was the assumed name of Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, the son of a noted Chinese surgeon and his English wife. He changed his name to Leslie Charteris in 1926.

In his youth he studied law at Cambridge University before writing his first book whilst still in his teens. The first Simon Templar "Saint" adventure followed shortly after that.

In all he chronicled the adventures of The Saint in nearly one hundred books.