Sir Herbert Brown Ames (June 27, 1863 – March 31, 1954) was a Canadian businessman, philanthropist and politician.

Ames inherited the family shoe company and later worked in insurance but used much of his fortune to help the poor and fight corruption.

The book offered a sociological and statistical analysis of the conditions of the poor people in just south of downtown Montreal, including Griffintown, Little Burgundy, and part of Pointe-Saint-Charles.

Ames was an avid philanthropist and funded a 39 unit apartment housing complex on William Street between Shannon and Ann for the poor called Diamond Court (see image).

He died in Montreal in 1954 and is buried along with his wife in the North Head Cemetery located behind the Anglican Church on Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick.