Childs, Roy A. (1949–1992)

Roy A. Childs, Jr., a self-taught writer and speaker, was a major influence in the libertarian movement during the 1960s and 1970s. He is perhaps best known for his work as editor of The Libertarian Review (1977–1981) and as the primary reviewer for Laissez Faire Books from 1984 to 1992. Apart from these positions, however, he also played a role in determining the direction of contemporary American libertarian thought and is credited with popularizing the anarcho-capitalist movement through his “Open Letter to Ayn Rand,” published when he was 20 years old.

He was born in Buffalo, New York, on January 4, 1949. His extensive reading led him to become a libertarian in high school. He graduated in 1966 and entered SUNY Buffalo, but from the late ...