Horace William Bleackley was born in Prestwich, Lancashire, in 1868. He received a thorough education, attending Cheltenham College and Repton School before matriculating at University College, Oxford. In his early writing career, Bleackley published fiction, occasionally writing under the pseudonym "Tivoli." Over time, however, his literary focus shifted from creative writing toward historical scholarship and detailed literary research.
As an author, Bleackley became increasingly recognized for his historical works, transitioning away from his early fictional endeavors to document past events and figures. He married Ruth Mary Gabriel, the daughter of Edmund Gabriel, and the couple had four children: Edward, Sheelah, Aline, and Horace.
In his later years, Bleackley resided in the south of France, making his home at Villa Isabelle in Cannes. He passed away on July 30, 1931, at the Hotel Beau Rivage in Lausanne, Switzerland. Upon his death, his estate was valued at over twenty-five thousand pounds, with probate granted to his widow and his two sons.
