When and where was Daniel Defoe born?
Daniel Defoe was born in Fore Street, London during the summer or early autumn of 1660. His family name was originally Foe before he added De to create his famous identity.
Questions about Daniel Defoe
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What happened to Daniel Defoe's neighborhood in 1665 and 1666?
The Great Plague of London killed seventy thousand people in 1665 while the Great Fire of London destroyed almost every building on his street in 1666. Only three houses remained standing after the flames consumed the area where he lived as a child.
Why did Daniel Defoe stand in the pillory on the 31st of July 1703?
Daniel Defoe stood in the pillory at the Old Bailey trial because authorities discovered the true authorship of his satirical pamphlet The Shortest-Way with the Dissenters. Judge Salathiel Lovell sentenced him to a fine of 200 marks plus public humiliation and imprisonment until the debt was paid.
How did Robert Harley help Daniel Defoe after his release from Newgate Prison?
Robert Harley brokered Daniel Defoe's release from Newgate Prison in exchange for intelligence services and paid some outstanding debts to improve his financial situation considerably. Within a week of leaving prison Daniel Defoe witnessed the Great Storm of November 1703 which killed more than eight thousand people.
What role did Daniel Defoe play during the Act of Union 1707 negotiations?
Daniel Defoe traveled to Edinburgh in September 1706 as a secret agent promoting the Act of Union 1707 using underhand methods to predispose Scottish opinion in favor of the treaty between England and Scotland. He reported vivid descriptions of violent demonstrations against the union proposal while remaining perfectly unsuspected despite corresponding with anyone in England.