David Hugh Courtney Gurr is a Canadian writer and author of literary novels and political thrillers. He was born William Le Breton Harvey Brisbane-Bedwell in 1936 in London, England but his name was changed by adoption in 1941. He was educated at Sherborne Prep and University College in England before emigrating with his family to Canada. He attended Belmont High School in Victoria, British Columbia, the Royal Canadian Naval College, and the University of Victoria. Gurr served with the Royal Canadian Navy from 1954 to 1970 as an executive officer and computer systems analyst. His first interest was in the theatre, and he received a scholarship to "tread the boards" at UBC in the summer of 1952. His name can still be seen painted on the backstage wall of the Old Auditorium.