Daniel defoe biography facts

Byhe was back in England, now formally using the name "Defoe" and serving as a "commissioner of the glass duty", responsible for collecting taxes on bottles. Inhe ran a tile and brick factory in what is now Tilbury in Essex and lived in the parish of Chadwell St Mary nearby. Writing As many as titles have been attributed to Defoe, including satirical poems, political and religious pamphlets, and volumes.

Pamphleteering and prison Daniel Defoe in the pilloryline engraving by James Charles Armytage after Eyre Crowe Defoe's first notable publication was An Essay Upon Projectsa series of proposals for social and economic improvement, published in His most successful poem, The True-Born Englishmandefended William against xenophobic attacks from his political enemies in England, and English anti-immigration sentiments more generally.

InDefoe presented the Legion's Memorial to Robert Harleythen Speaker of the House of Commons —and his subsequent employer—while flanked by a guard of sixteen gentlemen of quality. It demanded the release of the Kentish petitioners, who had asked Parliament to support the king in an imminent war against France. The death of William III in once again created a political upheaval, as the king was replaced by Queen Anne who immediately began her offensive against Nonconformists.

It was published anonymously, but the true authorship was quickly discovered and Defoe was arrested. In Defoe married a woman by the name of Mary Tuffley. Their marriage was most likely a rough one with his recurring debts. They had eight children, six of whom survived. In he joined the ill-fated Monmouth Rebellion, after which he was forced to spend three years in exile.

Daniel defoe biography facts: Daniel Defoe was an

His laments were loud, and he always defended unfortunate debtors, but there is evidence that his financial dealings were not always honest. Following his release, he probably traveled in Europe and Scotland. By he was back in England, using the name "Defoe" and serving as "commissioner of the glass duty," responsible for collecting the tax on bottles.

In Defoe wrote one of his most successful early pieces, The True-Born Englishman, a witty defense of King William of Orangewho had been criticized during his reign for his foreign-birth. The True-Born Englishman, still highly readable today, is considered one of the finest examples of Defoe's wry wit, as well as an eloquent critique of ethnic prejudice.

In Defoe published an ironic attack on the High Tories in form of a pamphlet entitled "The Shortest Way with Dissenters," in which he comedically argues for the extermination of all those who dissent from the Church of England. Harley brokered his release in exchange for Defoe's cooperation as an intelligence agent. Within a week of his release from prison, Defoe witnessed the Great Storm ofwhich raged Novemberthe only true hurricane ever to have made it over the Atlantic Ocean to the British Isles at full strength.

It caused severe damage to London and Bristol, uprooted millions of trees, and over eight thousand people lost their lives, mostly at sea. The event became the subject of Defoe's first book, The Storm In the same year he set up his periodical The Review, written almost entirely by himself.

Daniel defoe biography facts: Daniel Defoe was an

The Review ran without interruption and was published thrice weekly untiland was one of the most active periodicals of its time. Although Defoe originally began the periodical to assist Harley by publishing political propaganda, within a short time the Review encompassed articles on fashion, religion, society and the arts. Defoe's writings for the Review helped to set the standard for literary publications in eighteenth-century England, and, decades later, when Joseph Addison and Richard Steele would establish the Tatler and Spectator, they would draw much of their inspiration directly from Defoe.

By September Harley ordered Defoe to Edinburgh as a secret agent, to do everything possible to help secure acquiescence to the Union Act. He was very conscious of the risk to himself. The political climate in Scotland was such that had Defoe been found out he could have very well been killed; nonetheless, even as a secret agent, Defoe continued to write and publish prolifically.

Daniel defoe biography facts: Daniel Defoe was an English novelist,

In particular, a sequence of letters written to Harley and others during his tenure as a spy have become popular reading among scholars and general readers alike. His Career Daniel Defoe successfully pursued two careers in life: first, he became a businessman and later enjoyed an esteemed life as a poet and writer. He entered the world of business in his teens dealing in different products such as wine, general woolen goods, and hosiery.

A man with high ambitions, Defoe, had bright plans for the future, but unfortunately, luck did not favor him, and he was forced to declare bankruptcy in Soon after setting up another business, his interest in trade and politics grew stronger. Keepings the political scenario and his experiences in his view, he turned toward writing and his first writing attempt appeared in Although the work earned huge success, the style and content became the reason for his misery; he was arrested soon after the publication.

Later in his life, he intended to extend his writing talent to the work of prose fiction and came up with a big hit, Robinson Crusoe.

Daniel defoe biography facts: English novelist, pamphleteer and journalist Daniel

The book provides honest insight into human nature. He traveled often, selling such goods as wine and wool, but was rarely out of debt. He went bankrupt in paying his debts for nearly a decade thereafterand bydecided to leave the business industry altogether. Acclaimed Writer Having always been interested in politics, Defoe published his first literary piece, a political pamphlet, in