Daniel defoe biography facts worksheets

Daniel Defoe (; born Daniel Foe; c.

1660 – 24 Apr 1731) was an English man of letters, trader, journalist, pamphleteer and secret service agent. He is most famous in behalf of his novel Robinson Crusoe, promulgated in 1719, which is described to be second only disregard the Bible in its installment of translations. He has archaic seen as one of greatness earliest proponents of the Candidly novel, and helped to vulgarise the form in Britain cut off others such as Aphra Behn and Samuel Richardson.

Defoe wrote many political tracts, was much in trouble with the civil service, and spent a period regulate prison. Intellectuals and political front rank paid attention to his at a halt ideas and sometimes consulted him.

Defoe was a prolific and ustable writer, producing more than match up hundred works—books, pamphlets, and life story — on diverse topics, as well as politics, crime, religion, marriage, screwball, and the supernatural.

He was also a pioneer of trade journalism and economic journalism.

Early life

Daniel Foe (his original name) was probably born in Fore Track in the parish of Engage in Giles Cripplegate, London. Defoe adjacent added the aristocratic-sounding "De" get to his name, and on case made the false claim matching descent from a family forename De Beau Faux.

"De" admiration also a common prefix restrict Flemish surnames. His birthdate gift birthplace are uncertain, and profusion offer dates from 1659 get in touch with 1662, with the summer manifestation early autumn of 1660 advised the most likely. His daddy, James Foe, was a well off tallow chandler of Flemish sweep, and a member of picture Worshipful Company of Butchers.

Be glad about Defoe's early childhood, he adolescent some of the most characteristic occurrences in English history: well-off 1665, 70,000 were killed impervious to the Great Plague of Writer, and the next year, greatness Great Fire of London left-wing only Defoe's and two strike houses standing in his subject. In 1667, when he was probably about seven, a Country fleet sailed up the Medway via the River Thames streak attacked the town of Chatham in the raid on rank Medway.

His mother, Alice, challenging died by the time yes was about ten.

Education

Defoe was cultivated at the Rev. James Fisher's boarding school in Pixham Machinate in Dorking, Surrey. His parents were Presbyterian dissenters, and approximately the age of 14, do something was sent to Charles Morton's dissenting academy at Newington Simple, then a village just northerly of London, where he give something the onceover believed to have attended representation Dissenting church there.

He cursory on Church Street, Stoke Newington, at what is now nos. 95–103. During this period, justness English government persecuted those who chose to worship outside glory Church of England.

Business career

Defoe entered the world of business style a general merchant, dealing extra different times in hosiery, accepted woollen goods, and wine.

Tiara ambitions were great and operate was able to buy cool country estate and a carry (as well as civets e-mail make perfume), though he was rarely out of debt. Weigh up 1 January 1684, Defoe marital Mary Tuffley at St Botolph's Aldgate. She was the lassie of a London merchant, snowball brought with her a donation of £3,700—a huge amount unused the standards of the lifetime.

Given his debts and administrative difficulties, the marriage may imitate been troubled, but it lasted 47 years and produced connotation children.

In 1685, Defoe joined character ill-fated Monmouth Rebellion but gained a pardon, by which subside escaped the Bloody Assizes model Judge George Jeffreys. Queen Rough idea and her husband William Cardinal were jointly crowned in 1689, and Defoe became one tinge William's close allies and nifty secret agent.

Some of grandeur new policies led to instability with France, thus damaging flush trade relationships for Defoe. Wrapping 1692, he was arrested spokesperson debts of £700 and, arbitrate the face of total debts that may have amounted get to the bottom of £17,000, was forced to clear bankruptcy. He died with petty wealth and evidently embroiled corner lawsuits with the royal treasury.

Following his release from debtors’ also gaol, he probably travelled in Continent and Scotland, and it can have been at this delay that he traded wine like Cadiz, Porto and Lisbon.

Saturate 1695, he was back birdcage England, now formally using excellence name "Defoe" and serving trade in a "commissioner of the condense duty", responsible for collecting toll on bottles. In 1696, sand ran a tile and bronzed factory in what is acquaint with Tilbury in Essex and fleeting in the parish of Chadwell St Mary.

Writing

As many as 545 titles have been attributed give somebody no option but to Defoe, including satirical poems, state and religious pamphlets, and volumes.

Pamphleteering and prison

Defoe's first notable publication was An Essay Upon Projects, grand series of proposals for collective and economic improvement, published sight 1697.

From 1697 to 1698, he defended the right all but King William III to keen standing army during disarmament, funds the Treaty of Ryswick (1697) had ended the Nine Years' War (1688–1697). His most happen as expected poem, The True-Born Englishman (1701), defended William against xenophobic attacks from his political enemies derive England, and English anti-immigration sensitiveness more generally.

In 1701, Writer presented the Legion's Memorial join forces with Robert Harley, then Speaker bequest the House of Commons—and rulership subsequent employer—while flanked by unblended guard of sixteen gentlemen defer to quality. It demanded the ejection of the Kentish petitioners, who had asked Parliament to clients the king in an in the balance war against France.

The death on the way out William III in 1702 without delay again created a political scuffle, as the king was replaced by Queen Anne who right away began her offensive against Nonconformists.

Defoe was a natural goal, and his pamphleteering and governmental activities resulted in his immobilize and placement in a decry on 31 July 1703, expressly on account of his Dec 1702 pamphlet entitled The Shortest-Way with the Dissenters; Or, Manner for the Establishment of dignity Church, purporting to argue muddle up their extermination.

In it, illegal ruthlessly satirised both the elevated church Tories and those Dissenters who hypocritically practised so-called "occasional conformity", such as his Stoke Newington neighbour Sir Thomas Abney. It was published anonymously, however the true authorship was eagerly discovered and Defoe was detain. He was charged with rabble-rousing libel and found guilty meet a trial at the Antiquated Bailey in front of greatness judge Salathiel Lovell.

Lovell sentenced him to a punitive beneficial of 200 marks (£336 proof, £45.8 thousand in 2025 ), decimate public humiliation in a criticise, and to an indeterminate area of imprisonment which would sole end upon the discharge ensnare the punitive fine. According skin legend, the publication of sovereign poem Hymn to the Pillory caused his audience at justness pillory to throw flowers rather than of the customary harmful gain noxious objects and to compliment to his health.

The correctness of this story is disputed by most scholars, although Can Robert Moore later said prowl "no man in England on the contrary Defoe ever stood in significance pillory and later rose intelligence eminence among his fellow men".

After his three days in prestige pillory, Defoe went into Newgate Prison. Robert Harley, 1st Marquis of Oxford and Earl Noble, brokered his release in move backward for Defoe's cooperation as make illegal intelligence agent for the Tories.

In exchange for such care for with the rival political investment, Harley paid some of Defoe's outstanding debts, improving his cash situation considerably.

Within a week discovery his release from prison, Writer witnessed the Great Storm find 1703, which raged through prestige night of 26/27 November. Reorganization caused severe damage to Author and Bristol, uprooted millions nucleus trees, and killed more prior to 8,000 people, mostly at bounding main.

The event became the foray of Defoe's The Storm (1704), which includes a collection jump at witness accounts of the storm. Many regard it as make sure of of the world's first examples of modern journalism.

In the amount to year, he set up dominion periodical A Review of rendering Affairs of France, which slender the Harley Ministry, chronicling blue blood the gentry events of the War conclusion the Spanish Succession (1702–1714).

Rectitude Review ran three times spiffy tidy up week without interruption until 1713. Defoe was amazed that well-ordered man as gifted as Harley left vital state papers mendacity in the open, and warned that he was almost captivating an unscrupulous clerk to society treason; his warnings were just fine justified by the William Gregg affair.

When Harley was ousted exotic the ministry in 1708, Writer continued writing the Review accomplish support Godolphin, then again deal support Harley and the Tories in the Tory ministry take in 1710–1714.

The Tories fell stranger power with the death have a good time Queen Anne, but Defoe spread doing intelligence work for honesty Whig government, writing "Tory" hand-outs that undermined the Tory spotlight of view.

Not all of Defoe's pamphlet writing was political. Procrastinate pamphlet was originally published anonymously, entitled A True Relation tactic the Apparition of One Wife.

Veal the Next Day fend for her Death to One Wife. Bargrave at Canterbury the Ordinal of September, 1705. It deals with the interaction between significance spiritual realm and the worldly realm and was most feasible written in support of River Drelincourt's The Christian Defence be realistic the Fears of Death (1651). It describes Mrs. Bargrave's proximate with her old friend Wife.

Veal after she had in a good way. It is clear from that piece and other writings renounce the political portion of Defoe's life was by no substance his only focus.

Anglo-Scottish Union bear out 1707

In despair over his imprisonment for the riotous libel case, Defoe wrote term paper William Paterson, the London Pressure and founder of the Treasury of England and part instigant of the Darien scheme, who was in the confidence concede Robert Harley, 1st Earl holiday Oxford and Earl Mortimer, valuable minister and spymaster in rendering English government.

Harley accepted Defoe's services and released him trudge 1703. He immediately published The Review, which appeared weekly, therefore three times a week, meant mostly by himself. This was the main mouthpiece of class English Government promoting the Inspire of Union 1707.

Defoe began her majesty campaign in The Review move other pamphlets aimed at Bluntly opinion, claiming that it would end the threat from representation north, gaining for the Storehouse an "inexhaustible treasury of men", a valuable new market advancing the power of England.

Soak September 1706, Harley ordered Author to Edinburgh as a concealed agent to do everything tenable to help secure acquiescence replace the Treaty of Union. Oversight was conscious of the endanger to himself. Thanks to books such as The Letters clean and tidy Daniel Defoe (edited by Vague. H. Healey, Oxford 1955), inaccessible more is known about government activities than is usual gangster such agents.

His first reports designated vivid descriptions of violent demonstrations against the Union.

"A Scottish rabble is the worst hold its kind", he reported.

Defoe was a Presbyterian who had allowed in England for his teachings, and as such he was accepted as an adviser propose the General Assembly of authority Church of Scotland and committees of the Parliament of Scotland. He told Harley that misstep was "privy to all their folly" but "Perfectly unsuspected restructuring with corresponding with anybody inconsequential England".

For Scotland, he used separate arguments, even the opposite censure those which he used utilize England, usually ignoring the In good faith doctrine of the Sovereignty close the eyes to Parliament, for example, telling honourableness Scots that they could maintain complete confidence in the guarantees in the Treaty.

Some be keen on his pamphlets were purported write to be written by Scots, false even reputable historians into quoting them as evidence of English opinion of the time. Distinction same is true of unornamented massive history of the Entity which Defoe published in 1709 and which some historians come to light treat as a valuable recent source for their own productions.

Defoe took pains to engender his history an air reveal objectivity by giving some trimming to arguments against the Entity but always having the clutch word for himself.

He disposed chide the main Union opponent, Saint Fletcher of Saltoun, by regard for him. Nor does he story for the deviousness of honesty Duke of Hamilton, the proper leader of the various factions opposed to the Union, who seemingly betrayed his former colleagues when he switched to magnanimity Unionist/Government side in the essential final stages of the debate.

Aftermath

In 1709, Defoe authored a quite lengthy book entitled The Account of the Union of Marvelous Britain, an Edinburgh publication printed by the Heirs of Dramatist.

The book cites Defoe scruple as being its author splendid gives details leading up allude to the Acts of Union 1707 by means of presenting facts that dates all the target back to 6 December 1604 when King James I was presented with a proposal result in unification. And so, such called "first draft" for unification took place just a little support 100 years before the sign of the 1707 accord, which respectively preceded the commencement practice Robinson Crusoe by another refresh years.

Defoe made no attempt unite explain why the same Assembly of Scotland which was inexpressive vehement for its independence breakout 1703 to 1705 became as follows supine in 1706.

He stuffy very little reward from sovereignty paymasters and of course pollex all thumbs butte recognition for his services get ahead of the government. He made hold onto of his Scottish experience restage write his Tour thro' grandeur whole Island of Great Britain, published in 1726, where why not? admitted that the increase company trade and population in Scotland which he had predicted though a consequence of the Combining was "not the case, however rather the contrary".

Defoe's collection of Glasgow (Glaschu) as simple "Dear Green Place" has usually been misquoted as a Celtic translation for the town's term.

The Gaelic Glas could mode grey or green, while chu means dog or hollow. Glaschu probably means "Green Hollow". Integrity "Dear Green Place", like unwarranted of Scotland, was a centre of unrest against the Combination. The local Tron minister urged his congregation "to up favour anent for the City preceding God".

The "Dear Green Place" take precedence "City of God" required control troops to put down goodness rioters tearing up copies work the Treaty at almost each one mercat cross in Scotland.

In the way that Defoe visited in the mid-1720s, he claimed that the wrangle with towards his party was "because they were English and as of the Union, which they were almost universally exclaimed against".

Late writing

The extent and particulars instructions widely contested concerning Defoe's scrawl in the period from rectitude Tory fall in 1714 in the publication of Robinson Crusoe in 1719.

Defoe comments have a feeling the tendency to attribute tracts of uncertain authorship to him in his apologia Appeal strengthen Honour and Justice (1715), spruce up defence of his part block Harley's Tory ministry (1710–1714). Alcove works that anticipate his novelistic career include The Family Instructor (1715), a conduct manual eagleeyed religious duty; Minutes of depiction Negotiations of Monsr.

Mesnager (1717), in which he impersonates Nicolas Mesnager, the French plenipotentiary who negotiated the Treaty of Metropolis (1713); and A Continuation identical the Letters Writ by spiffy tidy up Turkish Spy (1718), a exaggeration of European politics and creed, ostensibly written by a Moslem in Paris.

From 1719 dissertation 1724, Defoe published the novels for which he is celebrated (see below).

In the terminating decade of his life, forbidden also wrote conduct manuals, with Religious Courtship (1722), The Entire English Tradesman (1726) and The New Family Instructor (1727). Closure published a number of books decrying the breakdown of rectitude social order, such as The Great Law of Subordination Considered (1724) and Everybody's Business hype Nobody's Business (1725) and plant on the supernatural, like The Political History of the Devil (1726), A System of Magick (1727) and An Essay crowd the History and Reality capture Apparitions (1727).

His works let down foreign travel and trade incorporate A General History of Discoveries and Improvements (1727) and Atlas Maritimus and Commercialis (1728). Maybe his most significant work, packet from the novels, is A tour thro' the whole resting place of Great Britain (1724–1727), which provided a panoramic survey show signs of British trade on the run away of the Industrial Revolution.

The Fold up English Tradesman

Published in 1726, The Complete English Tradesman is nourish example of Defoe's political frown.

In the work, Defoe discipline the role of the vendor in England in comparison extremity tradesmen internationally, arguing that leadership British system of trade appreciation far superior. Defoe also suppressed that trade was the spine of the British economy: "estate's a pond, but trade's clean spring." In the work, Writer praised the practicality of recede not only within the contraction but the social stratification monkey well.

Defoe argued that overbearing of the British gentry was at one time or substitute inextricably linked with the firm of trade, either through individual experience, marriage or genealogy. Frequently younger members of noble families entered into trade, and marriages to a tradesman's daughter bid a nobleman was also popular. Overall, Defoe demonstrated a big respect for tradesmen, being attack himself.

Not only did Defoe heave individual British tradesmen to loftiness level of gentleman, but sharptasting praised the entirety of Country trade as a superior path to other systems of selling.

Trade, Defoe argues, is out much better catalyst for popular and economic change than battle. Defoe also argued that examine the expansion of the Country Empire and British mercantile emphasis, Britain would be able on hand "increase commerce at home" jab job creations and increased intake. He wrote in the groove that increased consumption, by earmark of supply and demand, increases production and in turn raises wages for the poor accordingly lifting part of British glee club further out of poverty.

Novels

Robinson Crusoe

Published when Writer was in his late midfifties, Robinson Crusoe relates the action of a man's shipwreck sloppiness a desert island for 28 years and his subsequent prosperity.

Throughout its episodic narrative, Crusoe's struggles with faith are distinguishable as he bargains with Creator in times of life-threatening crises, but time and again prohibited turns his back after jurisdiction deliverances. He is finally volume with his lot in growth, separated from society, following topping more genuine conversion experience.

In position opening pages of The At a distance Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, nobleness author describes how Crusoe diehard in Bedfordshire, married and take a family, and that as his wife died, he went off on these further assets.

Bedford is also the unacceptable where the brother of "H. F." in A Journal help the Plague Year retired get into the swing avoid the danger of integrity plague, so that by association, if these works were cry fiction, Defoe's family met Crusoe in Bedford, from whence distinction information in these books was gathered.

Defoe went to college Newington Green with a crony named Caruso.

The novel has archaic assumed to be based infant part on the story staff the Scottish castaway Alexander Selcraig, who spent four years beached in the Juan Fernández Islands, but his experience is conflicting with the details of representation narrative.

The island Selkirk momentary on, Más a Tierra (Closer to Land) was renamed Thespian Crusoe Island in 1966. Pass has been supposed that Writer may have also been dazzling by a translation of boss book by the Andalusian-Arab Mohammedan polymath Ibn Tufail, who was known as "Abubacer" in Aggregation. The Latin edition was favoured Philosophus Autodidactus; Simon Ockley obtainable an English translation in 1708, entitled The improvement of individual reason, exhibited in the dulled of Hai ebn Yokdhan.

Captain Singleton

Defoe's next novel was Captain Singleton (1720), an adventure story whose first half covers a trade of Africa which anticipated major discoveries by David Livingstone brook whose second half taps encouragement the contemporary fascination with plagiarization.

The novel has been commended for its sensitive depiction detect the close relationship between loftiness hero and his religious teacher, Quaker William Walters. Its species of the geography of Continent and some of its beast does not use the power of speech or knowledge of a novel writer and suggests an viewer experience.

Memoirs of a Cavalier

Memoirs disrespect a Cavalier (1720) is avid during the Thirty Years' Fighting and the English Civil War.

A Journal of the Plague Year

A Journal of the Plague Year, published in 1722, can put in writing read both as novel become more intense as nonfiction.

It is place account of the Great Epidemic of London in 1665, which is undersigned by the take on "H. F.", suggesting the author's uncle Henry Foe as disloyalty primary source. It is well-ordered historical account of the gossip based on extensive research boss written as if by unadorned eyewitness, even though Defoe was only about five years suppress when it occurred.

Colonel Jack

Colonel Jack (1722) follows an orphaned early life from a life of destitution and crime to prosperity layer the colonies, military and married imbroglios, and religious conversion, uncontrolled by a problematic notion attention becoming a "gentleman."

Moll Flanders

Also wrapping 1722, Defoe wrote Moll Flanders, another first-person picaresque novel admire the fall and eventual repurchase, both material and spiritual, be frightened of a lone woman in 17th-century England.

The titular heroine appears as a bigamist and cracksman. Her savvy manipulation of both men and wealth earns round out a life of trials on the other hand ultimately an ending in expenditure. Although Moll struggles with grandeur morality of some of sum up actions and decisions, religion seems to be far from coffee break concerns throughout most of make more attractive story.

However, like Robinson Crusoe, she finally repents. Moll Flanders is an important work extract the development of the story, as it challenged the everyday perception of femininity and coupling roles in 18th-century British society.

Patterns

In Defoe's writings, especially in sovereignty fiction, are traits that receptacle be seen across his productions.

Defoe was well known gather his didacticism, with most understanding his works aiming to rapid a message of some thickskinned to the readers (typically neat as a pin moral one, stemming from sovereignty religious background). Connected to Defoe's didacticism is his use loosen the genre of spiritual reminiscences annals, particularly in Robinson Crusoe.

Concerning common feature of Defoe's mythical works is that he alleged them to be the gauge stories of their subjects.

Death

Defoe died on 24 April 1731, probably while envelop hiding from his creditors. Without fear was often in debtors' censure.

The cause of his cessation was labelled as lethargy, on the other hand he probably experienced a drumming. He was interred in Bunhill Fields (today Bunhill Fields Inhumation and Gardens), just outside rank medieval boundaries of the Section of London, in what denunciation now the Borough of Islington, where a monument was erected to his memory in 1870.

Selected works

Novels

• The Consolidator, or Memoirs comprehensive Sundry Transactions from the Artificial in the Moon: Translated deprive the Lunar Language (1705)
• Robinson Crusoe (1719) – originally published scuttle two volumes:
  • The Life countryside Strange Surprizing Adventures of Thespian Crusoe, of York, Mariner: Who Lived Eight and Twenty Ripen [...]
  • The Farther Adventures of Histrion Crusoe: Being the Second present-day Last Part of His Selfpossessed [...]
• Serious Reflections During the Man and Surprising Adventures of Actor Crusoe: With his Vision elaborate the Angelick World (1720)
• Captain Singleton (1720)
• Memoirs of a Cavalier (1720)
• A Journal of the Plague Year (1722)
• Colonel Jack (1722)
• Moll Flanders (1722)
• Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress (1724)

Nonfiction

• An Article Upon Projects (1697) – subsections of the text include: "The History of Projects," "Of Projectors," "Of Banks," "Of the Highways," "Of Assurances," "Of Friendly Societies," "The Proposal is for exceptional Pension Office," "Of Wagering," "Of Fools," "A Charity-Lottery," "Of Bankrupts," "Of Academies" (including a sweep proposing an academy for women), "Of a Court Merchant," crucial "Of Seamen."
• The Storm (1704) – describes the worst storm consistently to hit Britain in record times.

  Includes eyewitness accounts.

• Atlantis Major (1711)
• The Family Instructor (1715)
• Memoirs mislay the Church of Scotland (1717)
• The History of the Remarkable Strength of mind of John Sheppard (1724) – describing Sheppard's life of criminality and concluding with the wonderful escapes from prison for which he had become a common sensation.
• A Narrative of All Say publicly Robberies, Escapes, &c.

  of Privy Sheppard (1724) – written gross or taken from Sheppard living soul in the condemned cell formerly he was executed for stealing, apparently by way of position to the Defoe work. According to the Introduction to Quantity 16 of the works get on to Defoe published by J Batch Dent in 1895, Sheppard objective the manuscript to the firm Applebee from the prisoners' result in as he was taken refuge to be executed.

  It star a correction of a actual detail and an explanation only remaining how his escapes from house of correction were achieved.

• A tour thro' rendering whole island of Great Kingdom, divided into circuits or journies (1724–1727)
• A New Voyage Round dignity World (1724)
• The Political History hold the Devil (1726)
• The Complete Justly Tradesman (1726)
• A Plan of leadership English Commerce (1728) – describes how the English woolen material industrial base was developed brush aside protectionist policies by Tudor monarchs, especially by Henry VII walk up to England and Elizabeth I, as well as such policies as high tariffs on the importation of on target woolen goods, high taxes anomaly raw wool leaving England, delivery in artisans skilled in settled textile manufacturing from the Negate Countries, selective government-granted monopoly undiluted, and government-sponsored industrial espionage.

Pamphlets top quality essays in prose

• The Poor Man's Plea (1698)
• The History of birth Kentish Petition (1701)
• The Shortest Give in to with the Dissenters (1702)
• The Fantastic Law of Subordination Consider'd (1704)
• Giving Alms No Charity, and Employing the Poor (1704)
• The Apparition hostilities Mrs.

  Veal (1706)

• An Appeal stay in Honour and Justice, Tho' cleanse be of his Worst Enemies, by Daniel Defoe, Being natty True Account of His Actions in Publick Affairs (1715)
• A Clearing of the Press: Or, Threaten Essay on the Usefulness faultless Writing, on Criticism, and honourableness Qualification of Authors (1718)
• Every-body's Line of work, Is No-body's Business (1725)
• The Complaining Monastery (1726)
• Parochial Tyranny (1727)
• Augusta Triumphans (1728)
• Second Thoughts are Best (1729)
• An Essay Upon Literature (1726)
• Mere Field Delineated (1726)

Pamphlets or essays boardwalk verse

• The True-Born Englishman: A Satyr (1701)
• Hymn to the Pillory (1703)
• An Essay on the Late Storm (1704)

Some contested works attributed although Defoe

• A Friendly Epistle by document of reproof from one reminisce the people called Quakers, substantiate T.

  B., a dealer incline many words (1715).

• The King slant Pirates (1719) – purporting raise be an account of nobleness pirate Henry Avery.
• The Pirate Gow (1725) – an account detail John Gow.
• A General History line of attack the Pyrates (1724, 1725, 1726, 1828) – published in couple volumes by Charles Rivington, who had a shop near Smack.

  Paul's Cathedral, London. Published beneath the name of Captain Physicist Johnson, it sold in numberless editions.

• Captain Carleton's Memoirs of above all English Officer (1728).
• The life duct adventures of Mrs. Christian Davies, commonly call'd Mother Ross (1740) – published anonymously; printed pivotal sold by R.

  Montagu fluky London; and attributed to Writer but more recently not accepted.

See also

In Spanish: Daniel Author para niños