Daniel Defoe

He tied the marital knot with daughter of a London merchant, Mary Tuffley. Though the marriage went through a troubled phase, due to his increasing debts and political difficulties, the two managed to stay together for 50 years.

They were blessed with eight children, of which six survived to adulthood.

He breathed his last on April 24, 1731 and was interred in Bunhill Fields, London. In 1870, a monument was constructed in memory of him.

Daniel Defoe was born as Daniel Foe around 1660 at the parish of St. Giles Cripplegate, London to Annie and James Foe. However, his exact birthdate and birth location is a matter of contest.

His father James Foe was a prosperous tallow chandler and a member of the Butchers' Company. Later on, he changed his name to Daniel Defoe to sound aristrocratic.

Since early on, young Defoe had a first-hand experience of natural plights and disasters as he witnessed the Great Plague of London, the Great Fire of London and the Dutch attacks on Chatham.

He completed his preliminary education from Rev. James Fisher's boarding school and later on took to studying at the dissenting academy at Newington Green in London due to his Presbyterian background.

Initially planning to become a dissenting minister, he gave up on the same to pursue business. He started as a general merchant selling hosiery stuffs, woollen goods and wine. Though his business thrived successfully, he was never out of debt.

Meanwhile, keeping up with his interest in politics, he published his first literary piece in 1683, which was a political pamphlet. Working as a journalist, he published several pieces which supported the King William.

In 1685, he became one of the members of the Monmouth Rebellion but was pardoned. Three years later, when William III was appointed as the king, he served as his close ally and secret agent.

In 1695, he returned to England and started serving as the commissioner of glass duty. His profile included collecting taxes on bottles. The following year, he commenced a tile and brick factory and started living in the parish of Chadwell St Mary.

His first serious publication came in 1697 under the title, ‘An Essay Upon Projects’. The work gave a detailed analysis of proposals for economic and social improvement.

This author of the famous novel, ‘Robinson Crusoe’ is said to have employed at least 198 pen names during his career as a writer and journalist.