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Daniel Dafoe was born in 1660 in London to a wealthy meat merchant, James Fo. Famous for the adventure novel "Robinson Crusoe", he went a long way in life, tried his hand at entrepreneurship, journalism and even politics. The pseudonym Defoe (Daniel Defoe) the writer took as an adult.

In 1666, a terrible fire broke out in the city. The fire destroyed the church and the parish book with the birth record stored in it, so the exact date is unknown. When the boy was 8 years old, his mother died.

The father saw his son as a minister of the Presbyterian church, so the future writer went to study at a school that trained clergy and even graduated from the academy. During his studies, he was interested in classical literature, studied several foreign languages. Some believe that Defoe spoke Russian, although he had never been to Russia. Already at school, the young man was engaged in composing poems on religious topics. However, he was not destined to become a minister of the church - the idea to engage in trade attracted more.

Daniel was an adventurer and traveled a lot. Business related to trading activities allowed him to frequently visit Spain, Portugal and France, where he had the opportunity to hone his knowledge of languages.

It is known that the writer was found by Algerian pirates, whom he met on his way to Holland. Having received a ransom for him, the pirates quickly released him. According to other sources, Defoe freed the British patrol frigate.

In 1684, Daniel received a rich dowry by marrying Mary Tuffley. Mary and Daniel gave birth to eight children. With the money received as a dowry, the family could lead a comfortable existence, however, in 1692, bankruptcy swallowed up the entire fortune. According to Defoe, he got rich and went bankrupt 12 times, but he never managed to cope with this commercial failure.

The first poem "A Thoroughbred Englishman" was published in 1701. Society reacted very controversially to the poem, but King William III highly appreciated the composition. The death of the monarch led to a hurricane of attacks from all sides.

The church reacted painfully to the release of the opus "How to short-circuit those who believe differently." In 1703, Defoe stood at the pillory three times and paid a rather large monetary fine. The punishment did not cause moral harm, but the reputation of the merchant was seriously damaged.

For masterful speeches, Defoe went to prison, from where he soon got out, thanks to the patronage of Minister Robert Harley.

Passion for prose came to D. Defoe in 1719. The first work that came out of the pen was the book "The Life and Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe."

In 1720, Notes of a Cavalier and Captain Singleton appeared.

In 1724, the writer finishes work on Roxana.

No less significant works: "Journey through the whole island of Great Britain", "General History of Piracy", "The Perfect English Merchant" and "Marine Trade Atlas".

Biography 2

Daniel was born in 1661 in the Cripplegate area of ​​London. The family of the future novelist was not from the poor - his father was engaged in the meat trade. Relatives saw for the boy a career as a pastor. Therefore, having reached the age of 14, Daniel began his studies at the theological seminary. After graduating from the seminary, Daniel enters the Protestant Academy. But the young man himself never saw himself as a pastor. He was attracted by commerce and trade. By the age of 20, Daniel opens his first business, which brought him profit for 10 whole years. It was a hosiery company. After that, he was engaged in the trade of wine, building materials, as well as tobacco and tobacco products, doing business not only at home, but also in some European countries.

Daniel was actively interested in politics. He also gained fame in the world of literature for his writings on politics and the public after 1699. Along with fame came both supporters and hostile critics. The politically oriented work of Daniel Defoe once led him to be arrested and sentenced to the pillory. This punishment was supposed to lead to mockery and shame, but it worked in the opposite direction. The writer was praised and showered with flowers, the crowd sang the "Hymn to the Pillory" written by him.

Later, the writer was offered to secretly work for the government, and was also made a secret agent of Britain in Scotland. The purpose of his work was to inform his government about the activities of the Scottish opposition and to influence public opinion by publishing his writings. In return, the government paid off Daniel's fine and his family's debts, thus saving Daniel, his wife and eight children from starvation.

Later, in 1719, the famous work of the writer was published. "Robinson Crusoe" captivated the reader with the scale of the idea and the fascination of the plot. After the success of the book, Daniel publishes a sequel to the novel, which did not cause such a furore, but also attracted due attention. A third book in the Robinsonade series was also released, but it also did not bring initial success.

The novelist died while on the run, being alone, in 1731. His sons had long gone about their business, and his daughters lived with their families. The mistress of his rented apartment took over the funeral.

On January 27, 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born. He was born in the beautiful city of Salzburg. The boy had a talent for music when he was still small.

Daniel Fo was born around 1660 near London in the family of a prosperous merchant. He added the aristocratic prefix "De" to his surname much later. Parents wanted to see Daniel as a pastor, so a lively and inquisitive boy graduated from school and then seminary. But Defoe suddenly went into business.

He was the owner of a hosiery factory, a tile factory, and got involved in many other commercial adventures. According to Daniel's own words, he got rich and broke 12 times. On business Defoe traveled almost all of Europe, learned several foreign languages. He successfully married a girl with a rich dowry, who bore him 8 children.

From 1701, Defoe's sharp political pamphlets began to appear and quickly gain popularity. From 1704 to 1713 he edited the popular Revue newspaper. Defoe made a lot of new things in journalism, in particular, he used the genre of interviews and crime chronicles. And his economic and political articles were written at a high professional level.

In 1705, after a large-scale commercial adventure, Defoe finally went bankrupt and ended up in prison, from where he was rescued by Minister Robert Harley. A high-ranking official was impressed by Daniel's project to organize an intelligence agency. Defoe was asked to head this service. Daniel then not only led the intelligence network, but often took part in operations himself.

At the age of 58, Defoe left the political arena and devoted himself entirely to literary activity. His first novel, The Life and Wonderful Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, was a phenomenal success. Defoe wrote two sequels to Robinson Crusoe, as well as several other novels. But none of them became so popular.

The prototype of Robinson was the sailor Alexander Selkirk, who lived on a desert island for four years. This work reliably depicts the interaction of man with nature, the formation of character under the influence of external circumstances. Using the example of his heroes, Defoe shows that a person is able to overcome any natural forces through hard work, to subjugate them, enriching and increasing, and not destroying.

Robinson is distinguished by courage, willpower and great diligence. The best human qualities in the novel are represented by the native Friday. He has a great influence on Robinson, changing his worldview and forcing him to treat people with more kindness and understanding.

The French educator Jean-Jacques Rousseau paid special attention to the educational value of "Robinson Crusoe" and recommended it for mandatory reading to teenagers. By the end of the 18th century, this novel was translated into the main European languages ​​and went through countless editions. "Robinson Crusoe" gave rise to many alterations and imitations, creating a special cycle of robinsonades.

A feature of Defoe's works of art is faith in the enormous possibilities of man. His novels are written in a simple and clear language, with little to no landscape scenes, and the narration is always conducted from the point of view of the protagonist. Thanks to this technique, Defoe's novels are perceived by readers as genuine adventures of real people.

In The Joys and Sorrows of Moll Flanders, Defoe traces all the ups and downs of a woman under the influence of the social environment. Moll is forced to embark on a criminal path. The author accurately depicts how the character of the main character changes, shows her transformation into a famous thief, traces all the circumstances that lead to the fall of a woman. And the heroine of another novel, The Happy Courtesan, or Roxana, is pushed onto the path of vice not by poverty, but by a passion for luxury.

Realistic sketches of the heroes of the criminal society are also depicted in the novels "The Story of Colonel Jack" and "The Life, Adventures and Pirate Feats of the Illustrious Captain Singleton." Defoe raises the problem of a just and reasonable social order, in which such strong-willed, outstanding personalities do not become pirates and robbers, but benefit the state.

Daniel Defoe's brief biography is set out in this article.

Daniel Defoe short biography

Daniel Defoe- English writer and publicist, author of Robinson Crusoe.

Was born in 1660 in London, Cripplegate. The writer's father was a merchant and Presbyterian named James Fo. Daniel also bore the surname Fo at birth, but later took the pseudonym Defoe. Initially, he was preparing for a career as a pastor, but then refused and entered Newington Academy, where he studied classical literature and foreign languages.

After graduating from the academy, he went to work for a hosiery merchant as a clerk, and repeatedly made business trips to Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy. Later, he acquired his own hosiery production, owned a large factory that produced bricks and tiles. But his commercial activities ended in bankruptcy.

He lived a bright and eventful life. As a young man, he took an active part in political life, was one of the rebels against King James II Stuart, then hid in different cities to avoid imprisonment.

The first poem of the writer appeared in 1701 - "Pure-blooded Englishman". It ridiculed prejudices about racial superiority and provoked controversy in society. Soon he wrote a caustic essay "How to shorten the non-believers", which caused a storm of indignation from the high church.

In 1703, he was accused of political transgressions and was forced to stand at the pillory, as well as pay a fine. Then he made a revealing speech, for which he was sent to prison. Soon, thanks to the Speaker of the House of Commons, he was released. Defoe became interested in prose in 1719. It was during this period that the book "The Life and Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" was published. And it was followed by "Notes of a Cavalier", "Fortune and Misfortune of Moll Flanders", "Captain Singleton", "Marine Trade Atlas" and other famous works.

Daniel Defoe - English writer, publicist, journalist, founder of economic journalism, popularizer of the novel genre in the UK, author of the novel about Robinson Crusoe - was born around 1660 near the English capital, in Cripplegate. His father, a meat merchant, groomed him for a career as a Presbyterian pastor and sent him to the seminary, Morton Academy in Stoke Newington, where his son studied classical literature as well as Latin and Greek. However, Defoe Jr. was attracted by a completely different path - commercial activity, trade.

After graduating from the academy, he went to work for a hosiery merchant as a clerk, and repeatedly made business trips to Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy. Subsequently, he acquired his own hosiery production, in his entrepreneurial biography was the management and ownership of a large factory that produced bricks and tiles. In this sense, Defoe was a man of his time: then there were many such merchant-adventurers, and he was among those whose commercial activities eventually ended in bankruptcy.

However, entrepreneurship was far from Daniel Defoe's only interest; he lived a bright and eventful life. As a young man, he took an active part in political life, was one of the rebels against King James II Stuart, then hid in different cities to avoid imprisonment.

Activities in the field of literature began with pamphlets and satirical poems, as well as prose treatises on business issues. In 1701, Defoe wrote a pamphlet called "The Thoroughbred Englishman" that ridiculed the aristocracy. He gained incredible popularity: he was sold on the street, and all 80 thousand copies were immediately sold out. For the pamphlet, the authorities sentenced him to a pillory, a huge fine and put him in prison until the execution of the punishment. When Defoe stood at the pillory, the people of London came to support him, but considerable damage was done to his business reputation, and while he was in prison, his business enterprise - a factory that produced tiles - essentially fell apart.

The prison sentence could have been very long, and the prospects were unclear, if Daniel Defoe had not been rescued by Robert Harley, Speaker of the House of Commons, Minister. After that, Defoe worked for him as a secret agent, collecting various information of interest to the patron in England and Scotland. Harley in 1704 placed him in the civil service - in the well-known periodical "Review", where he was charged with writing and editing articles. The publication lasted until 1713, and Defoe's comments during his work in the Review became the most famous of his writings of a political nature.

Tirelessly working in the field of journalism, Daniel Defoe also writes literary works. In 1719, the book "The Life and Amazing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" was published - a work that entered the treasury of world literature and brought the author a stunning success. On his wave, Defoe wrote in the same year "The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe", and a year later - another story-continuation, but the glory of "Life and Adventures ..." turned out to be out of reach. It is with this work, glorifying the strength of the human spirit, his indestructible will to live, that the name of Daniel Defoe is associated primarily, although his creative heritage was very rich and diverse in subject matter, genre, and scale.

He wrote more than half a thousand works, including the novels The Joys and Sorrows of Mole Flanders (1722), The Happy Courtesan, or Roxana (1724), The Life, Adventures, and Pirate Explosions of the Illustrious Captain Singleton (1720) and The History Colonel Jack" (1722), the works "The Perfect English Merchant", "Marine Trade Atlas", "General History of Piracy", "Journey through the Island of Great Britain". Daniel Defoe died in April 1731 in London.

Daniel Defoe (birth name Daniel Fo) - English writer and essayist - was born around 1660 in the Cripplegate area of ​​London in the family of a meat merchant Presbyterian James Fo (1630-1712), received a spiritual education and was preparing to become a pastor, but refused a church career. Engaged in commercial activities. In 1681 began to write poetry on religious themes.

He took part in the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth against James II Stuart and the battle of Sedgemoor. July 6, 1685 lost by the rebels.

After graduating from Newington Academy, where he studied Greek and Latin and classical literature, he became a clerk at a wholesale hosiery merchant. On trade matters he often visited Spain, Portugal and France, where he got acquainted with the life of Europe and improved in languages.

Subsequently, he himself was at one time the owner of a hosiery production and then first the manager, and then the owner of a large brick and tile factory, but went bankrupt. In Defoe there lived the spirit of an entrepreneurial businessman with an adventurous streak - a type common in that era. He was also one of the most active politicians of his time. A talented publicist, pamphleteer and publisher, he, without officially holding any public office, at one time had a great influence on the king and the government.

In 1697 wrote his first literary work, "Experience on Projects". In 1701 wrote a satirical work "The True-Born Englishman", ridiculing xenophobia. For the pamphlet "Shortest Way with the Dissenters" in 1703 was sentenced to pillory and imprisonment. In prison, Defoe continued his literary activity, writing "Hymn to the Pillory". In the same year, he was released on the condition that he would carry out secret orders from the government, that is, he would become a spy.

At the age of 59, in 1719, Daniel Defoe published the first and best novel in his entire creative life - "The life and amazing adventures of Robinson Crusoe, a sailor from York, who lived for twenty-eight years all alone on a desert island off the coast of America near the mouth of the Orinoco River, where he was thrown by a shipwreck, during which the entire crew of the ship except him died; with an account of his unexpected release by pirates, written by himself. We know this work as Robinson Crusoe.

The idea of ​​the novel was suggested to the writer by a real incident: in 1704, a Scottish sailor, Alexander Selkirk, after a quarrel with the captain, landed on an unfamiliar shore with a small supply of provisions and weapons. For more than four years he led a reclusive life, as it turned out, on the island of Juan Fernandez in the Pacific Ocean, until he was taken to a ship commanded by Woods Rogers.

Defoe introduces the Enlightenment concept of history through the novel. So, from barbarism (hunting and gathering), Robinson on the island passes to civilization (agriculture, cattle breeding, craft, slavery).

In the continuation of the novel about Robinson Crusoe, Defoe described his adventures in Great Tartaria and the states located on its lands - the Chinese and Russian Empires, as well as the life and customs of the peoples inhabiting it - the Chinese, Tatars and Russian (Siberian) Cossacks.

Defoe has written more than 500 books, pamphlets and magazines on various topics (politics, economics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology, the supernatural, etc.). He was also the founder of economic journalism. In journalism, he promoted bourgeois sanity, advocated religious tolerance and freedom of speech.

Works by Daniel Defoe:

"Robinson Crusoe" (Robinson Crusoe) - 1719.
"Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" (The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe) - 1719.
"The Life and Pirate Adventures of the Glorious Captain Singleton" (Captain Singleton) - 1720.
"Memoirs of a Cavalier" (Memoirs of a Cavalier) - 1720 .
A Journal of the Plague Year - 1722 .
"The joys and sorrows of the famous Moll Flanders" (Moll Flanders) - 1722 .
"The Happy Courtesan, or Roxana" (Roxana: The Fortunate Mistress) - 1724 .
"The King of Pirates" (King of Pirates).
"The Story of Colonel Jack" (Colonel Jack).
"A True Relation of the Apparition of One Mrs. Veal The Next day after Her Death to One Mrs. Bargrave at Canterbury The 8th of September 1705) - 1706.
"The Consolidator or, Memoirs of Sundry Transactions from the World in the Moon" - 1705 .
"Atlantis Major" (Main Atlantis) - 1711 .
"A Tour Thro" The Whole Island of Great Britain, Divided into Circuits or Journies" (Direct tour of the UK) - 1724–1727 .
"The Family Instructor" (The Family of the Instructor).
"The General History of Piracy" (The Pirate Gow) - 1724 .
"The Storm" (Storm).
"A New Voyage round the World" (New round-the-world trip) - 1725.
The Political History of the Devil - 1726 .
"System of Magic" (Magic System) - 1726 .
"The History Of The Remarkable Life of John Sheppard" (History of the remarkable life of John Sheppard) - 1724 .
"A Narrative Of All The Robberies, Escapes, &c. of John Sheppard" (The Narrative of All Heists, Escapes) - 1724 .
"The Pirate Gow" (Pirate Go) - 1725 .
"A Friendly Epistle by way of reproof from one of the people called Quakers, to T. B., a dealer in many words" - 1715 .
"Conjugal Lewdness" (Matrimonial depravity).
"Serious Reflections of Robinson Crusoe" (Serious reflections of Robinson Crusoe) - 1720 .
"The Complete English Tradesman" (The Complete English Tradesman).
"An Essay Upon Projects" (Essay on projects).
"An Essay Upon Literature" (An Essay on Literature) - 1726.
"Mere Nature Delineated" (Simple differentiation of nature) - 1726.
"A Plan of English Commerce" (Plan of English Trade) - 1728 .
"Essay on the Reality of Apparitions" (Essay on the reality of ghosts) - 1727 .
"The True-Born Englishman" (Pure-blooded Englishman) - 1701 .
"Hymn to the Pillory" (Hymn to the pillory) - 1703 .
Moubray House (Maubray House).