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Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe Kneller Style.jpg
Born Daniel Foe
1659–1660
London, England
Died 24 April 1731 (aged 70)
London, England
Resting place Bunhill Fields
Occupation Writer, journalist, merchant
Genre Adventure
Spouse Mary Tuffley

Daniel Defoe ( c. 1660 – 24 April 1731), born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer and spy. He is most famous for his novel Robinson Crusoe, which is second only to the Bible in its number of translations. He has been seen as one of the earliest proponents of the English novel, and helped to popularise the form in Britain with others such as Aphra Behn and Samuel Richardson. Defoe wrote many political tracts and often was in trouble with the authorities, including a spell in prison. Intellectuals and political leaders paid attention to his fresh ideas and sometimes consulted with him.

Defoe was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than three hundred works - books, pamphlets, and journals - on diverse topics, including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology, and the supernatural. He was also a pioneer of business journalism and economic journalism.

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