Greg

Daniel Defoe (approx. 1660 – 1731, dates are speculation for the most part) was an English novelist, journalist, and more – He was nearly everywhere in his era's literature world! Defoe was forced to endure some of the worst events in British history during his early years. In 1664, when Defoe was only a small child, he sat through the Dutch attacking London, the plague killing thousands of people, and the Great Fire of London. All of which occurred in rapid succession over the course of about three years. Later in Defoe's childhood – close to teenage years – he began studying at Charles Morton's Academy in London for the ministry. Much to the disdain of his father, James Foe, Defoe soon abandoned that path of education so as to pursue his passion of politics, literature, and trade – three relatively unrelated things.
Defoe's literary fame got its first big push in 1701 with his publication of the poem “The True Born Englishman”. That was the start of his literary fame. His literary infamy came with his publication of the pamphlet, “The Shortest Way With Dissenters” short after his poem's publication. The pamphlet greatly angered many for its satirical yet shamed views on the High Angelic Tories. As punishment for this, Defoe was forced to spend three days in a pillory, and a later imprisonment in jail.
After a great number of literary works, Daniel Defoe published Robinson Crusoe in 1719. In my opinion, Robinson Crusoe is Defoe's most famous and best (in all senses of the word) literary work ever published. Robinson Crusoe is a fictional novel about a young man's voyage to sea, and his subsequent shipwreck, in which he is the sole survivor.
On a more personal note, Daniel Defoe was married to Mary Tuffley in 1684, with whom he had seven children. Defoe, originally named “Foe”, believed himself to be of a higher class of person, renaming himself “DeFoe”.
Daniel Defoe was able to serve as an inspiration for many of history's literary masterminds to come. Yes, this was partially because of his time period, but much more because of his bold, innovative style of writing as well as his popularization of the nonfiction genre. His works will definitely withstand the test of time.