Grant Allen became a pioneer in science fiction, with the novel “The British Barbarians” (1895). This book, published about the same time as H. G. Wells's The Time Machine (which appeared January–May 1895, and which includes a mention of Allen, also described time travel.
Charles Grant Blairfindie Allen (February 24, 1848 – October 25, 1899) was a Canadian science writer and novelist, and a proponent of the theory of evolution. (Wikipedia)