Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe, born Daniel Foe around 1660, probably in the parish of St. Giles Cripplegate, London, was an English writer, journalist and spy, who is best remembered nowadays for his novel 'Robinson Crusoe'. A prolific writer, he wrote nearly six hundred books, pamphlets and journals on various topics such as politics, crime, religion and the supernatural as well as his novels. Defoe's parents were Presbyterian dissenters and had hoped that Daniel would become a dissenting minister. Instead of this Daniel turned his back on his upbringing and started in business as a merchant, before joining the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685. After the failure of the Rebellion, Daniel spent three years in exile before being arrested, fined and spending some time in prison. After his release he held many jobs including trading in wine which , amongst other destinations, took him to Spain, Portugal and Scotland.