Burroughs was born on September 1, 1875, in Chicago, Illinois (he later lived for many years in the suburb of Oak Park), the fourth son of businessman and Civil War veteran Major George Tyler Burroughs (1833-1913) and his wife Mary Evaline (Zieger) Burroughs (1840-1920). His middle name is from his paternal grandmother, Mary Rice Burroughs (1802-ca. 1870). Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan and the heroic Mars adventurer John Carter, although he produced works in many genres. -wikipedia