Defoe, Daniel (1660-03-25 - 1731-04-24)

Daniel Defoe was born in London in 1660. He was educated at Charles Morton's Academy, Newington Green until 1681. Following this, he became a merchant, but in 1692 declared bankruptcy. His satirical pamphlet, entitled Shortest Way With the Dissenters (1703), led to his arrest for seditious libel in the same year. In 1719, he published Robinson Crusoe, and in 1722, he published Moll Flanders. The former is often hailed as the first English novel. On 24 April 1731, Defoe died in lodgings on Rope makers' Alley, London. He was buried at Bunhill Fields two days later.