Abraham Merritt (1884-1943)
A. Merritt was the working name of American writer Abraham Grace Merritt. One of the most popular genre writers of his time, he was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame in 1999. Although primarily a journalist, he published nine novels and a number of short stories. Merritt was an influence on both H. P. Lovecraft and Richard Shaver. He died in Florida, aged 59.
For more information see http://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/merritt_a