English novelist Daniel Defoe died on April 24, 1731 in London, England. He was a novelist, journalist, and
pamphleteer, and is best known for his novel Robinson Crusoe (1719). Defoe was born on Daniel Foe (his original
name) was probably born in the parish of St. Giles Cripplegate, London circa
1659-1661. He later added the
aristocratic-sounding "De" to his name and on occasion claimed
descent from the family of De Beau Faux. His parents were Presbyterian
dissenters; during this period, the English government was often not tolerant
of those who chose to worship outside the Church of England. Defoe is notable
for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularize
the form in Britain, and, along with others such as Samuel Richardson, is among
the founders of the English novel. A prolific and versatile writer, he wrote
more than 500 books, pamphlets and journals on various topics (including
politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology and the supernatural). He was
also a pioneer of economic journalism. Daniel Defoe died on April 24, 1731,
probably while in hiding from his creditors. He was interred at the Bunhill
Fields Cemetery in London.
Michael Thomas Barry is the author of Great Britain’s Literary Legends.
The book can be purchased from Amazon through the following links:
