The man behind the church: How Scientology began

L. Ron Hubbard: Through the years

The Buffalo News/January 30, 2005
By Mark Sommer

Lafayette Ronald Hubbard was born in Tilden, Neb., March 13, 1911.

From 1931 to 1932, he attended George Washington University. He took three engineering classes, records show, and flunked a course in molecular and atomic physics, but would later claim he was trained as a nuclear physicist.

During World War II, Hubbard served in the Navy. Hubbard later claimed he had won medals he hadn't and alleged a combat wound that records show he never suffered.

In his early career, Hubbard worked as a successful pulp writer of science-fiction stories, romances and Westerns.

In 1950, Hubbard first wrote about Dianetics, the foundation of Scientology. The best selling book "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health"followed.

In 1954, Hubbard established the first Church of Scientology in Los Angeles.

In 1977, Hubbard was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal crime that resulted in 11 Scientology officials being given five-year prison sentences for infiltrating, burglarizing and wiretapping the IRS, FBI and other government agencies.

In 1986, Hubbard died, after living his last years as a recluse.