William Cecil Clayton William Cecil Clayton William Cecil Clayton is a recurring fictional character in Edgar Rice Burroughs's series of Tarzan novels and in adaptations of the saga to other media, particularly comics. William Cecil Clayton is a paternal cousin of John Clayton (Tarzan), whom he much resembles, and holder of the title of Lord Greystoke to which the latter is rightful heir. William serves as contrast to Tarzan, representing what the Ape-Man would likely have become had he led a normal life rather than being raised by apes, and is his rival for the affections of Jane Porter. He first appeared in
John Bell Clayton and Martha Clayton John Bell Clayton and Martha Clayton John Bell Clayton II (c. 1907-1955) was a "prolific writer of short stories" who won an O. Henry Short Story Award in 1947. His wife, Martha Carmichael Clayton (c. 1915-1961), oversaw the posthumous publication of her husband's works; she was a sister of songwriter Hoagy Carmichael. John Clayton was born in Craigsville, Virginia, and was graduated from the University of Virginia before becoming a journalist. In 1938, he had a film credit as the writer on a comedy, "The Old Raid Mule." In the 1940s he ran a lending library in San Francisco and