Daniel Defoe

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English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer, and spy

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Daniel Defoe

Native name
Born	Daniel Foe c. 1660 London, England
Died	24 April 1731 (aged 70) London, England
Resting place
Pen name
Nickname
Occupation	Writer, journalist, pamphleteer, spy
Language
Nationality

Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 – 24 April 1731) was an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer, and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, which is often credited as marking the beginning of realistic fiction as a literary genre. Defoe is also notable for his works Moll Flanders and A Journal of the Plague Year.

Early Life

Daniel Defoe was born as Daniel Foe in London around the year 1660. He later added the "De" to his surname, possibly to give it a more aristocratic sound. His father, James Foe, was a tallow chandler and a member of the Worshipful Company of Butchers. Defoe was educated at a Dissenting academy at Newington Green, run by the Reverend Charles Morton.

Career

Defoe's early career was as a trader, dealing in various goods including wine and wool. However, he faced several financial difficulties and declared bankruptcy in 1692. He then turned to writing and became a prolific author of pamphlets and journals. His works often focused on politics, economics, and social issues.

Writing

Defoe's most famous work, Robinson Crusoe, was published in 1719. The novel tells the story of a man shipwrecked on a deserted island and is considered one of the first examples of the novel as a literary form. Other notable works include Moll Flanders (1722), which follows the life of a woman born in Newgate Prison, and A Journal of the Plague Year (1722), a fictionalized account of the Great Plague of London in 1665.

Journalism

Defoe was also a pioneering journalist and is often credited with being one of the founders of modern journalism. He wrote for and edited several periodicals, including The Review, which he founded in 1704. The publication was notable for its commentary on current events and its influence on public opinion.

Political Involvement

Defoe was involved in politics and served as a spy for the Whig government. He was imprisoned several times for his political writings, including a stint in Newgate Prison in 1703 for his satirical pamphlet The Shortest Way with the Dissenters.

Personal Life

Defoe married Mary Tuffley in 1684, and the couple had eight children. Despite his financial struggles, Defoe continued to write and publish until his death on 24 April 1731.

Legacy

Daniel Defoe is remembered as one of the most important figures in the development of the novel and modern journalism. His works continue to be read and studied for their innovative narrative techniques and their insights into 18th-century society.

Related Pages

• Robinson Crusoe
• Moll Flanders
• A Journal of the Plague Year
• The Review
• Great Plague of London
• Newgate Prison