J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling is a British author best known for creating the seven-novel Harry Potter series. She has also written adult fiction and the Cormoran Strike crime series under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, alongside charitable work focused in part on children and young people.

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About J.K. Rowling

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

United Kingdom · Author, Philanthropist, Campaigner · 2 affiliations

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Also known as: Joanne Rowling, Robert Galbraith
Known for: Harry Potter series; Crime fiction under the Robert Galbraith pseudonym; Children's care reform philanthropy
Country: United Kingdom

Author
Philanthropist
Campaigner

At a glance

Rowling created the seven-novel Harry Potter series, which began with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997 and concluded with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007.
Her adult fiction includes The Casual Vacancy and the Cormoran Strike crime novels, published under the Robert Galbraith name.
She founded the Volant Charitable Trust and is identified by Lumos as its founder and life president.
Her recognition includes a Harvard honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2008 and appointment as a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in 2017.

Background and education

Joanne Rowling was born on 31 July 1965 at Yate General Hospital near Bristol, England. She studied French and Classics at the University of Exeter, including a year in Paris, and later adopted J.K. Rowling as her professional writing name.

Harry Potter and adult fiction

Rowling conceived the idea for Harry Potter during a delayed train journey from Manchester to London King's Cross in 1990. Bloomsbury first published Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in June 1997, beginning a seven-book series that concluded in 2007. She later published The Casual Vacancy for adults and began the Cormoran Strike crime series under the Robert Galbraith pseudonym. She also collaborated with playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany on the original stage story for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Charitable roles and public recognition

Rowling established the Volant Charitable Trust in 2000 to support charitable causes in Scotland, with an emphasis on women, children and young people at risk. Lumos, which began work addressing the institutionalisation of children in 2005, identifies her as its founder and life president. She received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Harvard in 2008 and was appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to literature and philanthropy in 2017.

Affiliations

Lumos Founder and life president present
Volant Charitable Trust Founder 2000

Timeline

1965-07-31 Born in Yate, near Bristol, England.
1990 Conceived the idea for Harry Potter while travelling on a delayed train from Manchester to London King's Cross.
1997-06 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was first published by Bloomsbury Children's Books.
2007 The seven-book Harry Potter series concluded with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
2008-06-05 Received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree and gave Harvard's commencement keynote address.
2012 Published The Casual Vacancy, her first novel for adults.
2013 The Cuckoo's Calling, the first Cormoran Strike novel published under the Robert Galbraith name, was released.
2017 Appointed a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to literature and philanthropy.

Additional verified details

Current context

Lumos identifies Rowling as its founder and life president. This reflects the charity's current self-description and should be rechecked before publication if a current-role field is used.
Robert Galbraith's official site identifies Rowling as the person writing the ongoing Cormoran Strike crime-fiction series under that pseudonym. This concerns authorship and series continuity, not a release schedule for future titles.

Biographical facts

She was born on 31 July 1965 at Yate General Hospital near Bristol, England.
She studied French and Classics at the University of Exeter; her course included a year in Paris.
J.K. Rowling is the professional writing name used by Joanne Rowling.
She collaborated with playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany on the original stage story for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
She established the Volant Charitable Trust in 2000 as a grant-making trust supporting charitable causes in Scotland, with emphasis on women, children and young people at risk.