Daniel Defoe
English writer (1660-1731)
Daniel Defoe was an English literary figure who was primarily known as a writer and journalist and to a lesser extent as a spy. He was perhaps most famously known as the author of the novel Robinson Crusoe, which is particularly appropriate given that Defoe was one of the earliest practitioners of the novel form of literature and played a large role in bringing the novel form to a wide audience all over Britain.
Some historians and literary academicians would even go so far as to proclaim Defoe one of, if not the sole, inventor of the modern English novel. Defoe even exerted considerable influence in the field of economic journalism and he made many outstanding contributions to this area of literature.
Defoe was a particularly impressive and prolific writer even in an era that had no shortage of literary giants. He was remarkably prolific having produced no less than 500 works of literature ranging from books and pamphlets to various journals.
His range as a writer was staggering and through the course of his career he touched on various topics such as crime, politics, adventure, religion, marriage, psychology and was even known to delve into supernatural subject matters.
The date of Daniel Defoe's birth has been the subject of some contention, with some sources placing the date at 1659 and some maintaining that he was born in 1661. Even the place of his birth is uncertain although he was most likely born in the parish of St. Giles Cripplegate in London.
Defoe's father was James Foe who was a tallow chandler by trade although he was a member of the Butcher's Company. Defoe later on added the prefix "De" to his surname perhaps in an effort to make it sound more Aristocratic and he has even been known to claim familial linkage to the De Beau Faux clan.
Both of Defoe's parents were Presbyterian dissenters and he himself received his early education in a Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington. Charles Morton who later on became vice-president of Harvard University headed this educational institution. Defoe however decided not to become a dissenting minister and after leaving school, he instead went on to become a general merchant and dealt in the trade of hosiery, woollen goods and wine.
Defoe was a somewhat ambitious man and had great plans for the future although his business career was riddled with debt. He bought a country estate and a ship and even invested heavily in the purchase of civet cats with the goal of making perfume but his financial difficulties continued to grow even through his marriage.
Among Daniel Defoe's most notable literary accomplishments was the aforementioned Robinson Crusoe as well as many other novels such as Captain Singleton, Colonel Jack and Moll Flanders. His final novel was Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress, which details the moral and spiritual downfall of a courtesan. Robinson Crusoe in particular has proved to be a resilient and enduring piece of literature and it is still widely read today.
The date of Defoe's death is again uncertain although most reports place it at April 24, 1731.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: RPN
Updated On: 24/04/2007
