Lincoln Peirce is an American artist and cartoonist, best known as the creator of the successful Big Nate comic strip, which debuted in 1991, and currently has a client list of around 400 newspapers worldwide. He has also written a number of animated shorts that have appeared on TV channels Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon, and is the creator of an upcoming Big Nate animated series. Born on October 23, 1963, in Ames, Iowa, Peirce acquired a fascination with comic strips at a young age. He studied art and art history at Colby College, Waterville, where he produced weekly comic strips, featuring an ensemble cast of students and faculty characters. He is originally from Portland, Maine, and still lives there with his wife and two children.