Defoe, Daniel

Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 - April 24, 1731) born Daniel Foe was an English writer, journalist, merchant, and spy. His most famous work was the 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe. In addition to his practice and promotion of English novel writing, his prolific political writing would bring him into frequent conflict with authority, landing him in prison for a time. He produced more than five hundred works: seventy five under his own name and confirmed pen name, but many anonymous and pseudonymous works are attributed to him. His birthdate has been offered as early as 1659 or as late as 1662. His father was a tallow chandler. He had a boarding school education, and was educated as a Presbyterian dissenter during a period of English persecution of congregants outside the Church of England. He first entered into the general merchant trade, and married successfully - providential given his political troubles and chronic debt. He took part in the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion but evaded punishment from the notorious Bloody Assizes; he would later serve William III as a general supporter as well as secret agent, despite the deleterious effects this had on his French trade relationships. By 1692, he would be arrested and imprisoned for debts that may have escalated to £17,000, but this did not last and by 1695 he was trading in Spanish and Portuguese wine, as well as other business ventures. Whether doing business or doing time, Defoe produced epic amounts of writing, for which he is best remembered today. His subjects ranged from poetry to prose, from satire to sacred works, from commerce to political pamphleteering. His first important works were pamphlets produced in support of King William III between 1697 and 1701, leading to his imprisonment under Queen Anne. Under Tory authority he would write in their support; with the rise of whigs he eagerly pilloried Tories satirically. but his reports of the 1703 Great Storm would later be noted as one of the first instances of modern journalism. He went on to chronicle the War of the Spanish Succession, among other current conflicts. Beginning in 1719 he wrote his famed novels; his late work would reach into political and trade theory, including his 1727 A General History of Discoveries and Improvements and A Tour thro' the Whole Island of Great BritainThe first part of the 1728 Atlas Maritimus and Commercialis , though anonymous, has been attributed to him: significant portions of its text are restatements of works published under Defoe's name, including the aforementioned General History and Tour. Defoe died on April 24 1731, in what might be construed as his most effective evasion of his creditors.