L. Ron Hubbard
American author who founded the Church of Scientology.
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Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, known as L. Ron Hubbard, was an American writer who founded Scientology. He was born on March 13, 1911, and died on January 24, 1986. Early in his career, he wrote many pulp science fiction and fantasy stories. In 1950, he published *Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health*, a book considered pseudoscientific, and set up groups to teach its methods. After going bankrupt and losing the rights to his Dianetics writings, he started Scientology in 1952. He led the Church of Scientology—called a cult, a new religious movement, or a business by different observers—until his death.
Hubbard was born in Tilden, Nebraska, the only child of Ledora May Waterbury, a trained teacher, and Harry Ross Hubbard, a low-ranking Navy officer. The family moved often, settling in Helena, Montana, in 1913. His father served in World War I, and his mother worked as a state government clerk. When his father was posted to Guam, Hubbard and his mother traveled there, stopping in Chinese ports. In high school, he wrote for the school paper but was dropped for failing grades. After failing the Naval Academy entrance exam, he attended a prep school for a second attempt, but was diagnosed with myopia—which he later privately admitted he used as an excuse to avoid the academy. He then went to the Woodward School in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1930, and enrolled at George Washington University to study civil engineering. He did poorly academically, contributed to the student newspaper, and joined the glider club. In 1932, he organized a failed student trip to the Caribbean that ended with passengers burning him in effigy. He did not return to the university the next year.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Hubbard lived in Washington, D.C., and later claimed to have interacted with several psychiatrists there, including Navy psychiatrist Joseph Thompson and William Alanson White, supervisor of St. Elizabeths hospital. He said both men saw his athleticism and lack of interest in psychology as positive signs, and he claimed to have been trained by them. He married Margaret Grubb, who shared his love of aviation.
In World War II, Hubbard served as a Navy officer, briefly commanding two ships but being removed from command both times. He spent his final months of active service in a hospital being treated for various ailments. After the war, he sought psychiatric
- born
- March 13, 1911, Tilden, Nebraska
- died
- January 24, 1986
- field
- Author, founder of Scientology
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Founding Scientology and authoring Dianetics
Lore & Background
Hubbard was born in Tilden, Nebraska, in 1911, and spent much of his childhood in Helena, Montana. While his father was posted to Guam in the late 1920s, Hubbard traveled to Asia and the South Pacific. He enrolled at George Washington University in 1930 to study civil engineering but dropped out in his second year. He began his career as a pulp fiction author and married Margaret Grubb, who shared his interest in aviation.
During World War II, Hubbard served as a Navy officer, briefly commanding two ships but being removed from command both times. After the war, he sought psychiatric help at a veteran's charity hospital in Georgia and began writing what became Dianetics while acting as a lay analyst. In 1951, his wife Sara stated that experts had diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia and recommended lifelong hospitalization. Hubbard created Scientology in 1952 and founded the first Scientology organizations in 1953; a church in Los Angeles, established in 1954, became the Church of Scientology International.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, as Scientology faced media and legal pressure, Hubbard spent much of his time at sea as 'commodore' of the Sea Organization, a private, quasi-paramilitary fleet. He returned to the United States in 1975 and went into seclusion in the California desert after an unsuccessful attempt to take over Clearwater, Florida. In 1978, he was convicted of fraud in absentia by France, and was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Snow White Program espionage case. He spent his remaining years in seclusion, attended by a small group of Scientology officials.
Reader's Guide
L. Ron Hubbard's significance lies in his founding of Scientology, a movement that has been variously described as a cult, a new religious movement, or a business. His 1950 book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health introduced techniques that he promoted through organizations, and after losing the rights to that literature in bankruptcy, he created Scientology in 1952. The Church of Scientology grew into an international organization, with Hubbard adding management strategies, pedagogy, communication theory, and prevention strategies to its teachings. His legacy is marked by controversy: his autobiographical statements were often fictitious, and the Church describes him in hagiographic terms. Sociologist Stephen Kent observed that Hubbard 'likely presented a personality disorder known as malignant narcissism.' Following his death in 1986, Scientology leaders announced that Hubbard had decided to 'drop his body' to continue research on another plane. The movement he founded continues to attract adherents and legal scrutiny worldwide.
Did You Know?
- Hubbard was convicted of fraud in absentia by France in 1978.
- His wife Sara said in 1951 that experts had diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia.
- Hubbard was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the Church's Snow White Program espionage case.
- After his death, Scientology leaders said he had decided to 'drop his body' to continue research on another plane.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is L. Ron Hubbard?
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard was an American author born in Tilden, Nebraska, in 1911, best known for establishing the Church of Scientology. Before that, he was a prolific writer of pulp science fiction and fantasy stories.
What is L. Ron Hubbard's role in Scientology?
He is the singular founding figure who launched the organization in 1952 after losing his Dianetics publishing rights. Followers regard him as the spiritual originator whose doctrines and texts still structure the entire movement.
How does L. Ron Hubbard's story end?
Hubbard died on January 24, 1986. Within the Church of Scientology he is honored as a departed founder, and his written works continue to serve as the movement's core scripture.
Why is L. Ron Hubbard important to Scientology followers?
He authored the foundational texts and built the doctrinal framework that the Church of Scientology still operates around. Without his writings and organizational vision, the movement as its adherents know it would not exist.
What did L. Ron Hubbard write before founding Scientology?
In the 1930s and 1940s he produced a large catalog of pulp science fiction and fantasy stories for popular magazines. He later published Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health in 1950, which preceded the formal launch of Scientology in 1952.
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