Daniel Defoe was born in 1660 in London. An English writer, merchant and journalist, Defoe is best known for Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719 and often regarded as one of the first English novels. He also wrote Moll Flanders, A Journal of the Plague Year and Captain Singleton, and produced a huge quantity of pamphlets and essays on politics and economics. His satire The Shortest Way with the Dissenters led to a spell in the pillory and in prison. He worked as a spy and propagandist for government ministers, and he suffered several financial failures during his career.
Before and after
- from September 1659 to September 1663Esopus Wars
- 7 November 1659Treaty of the Pyrenees
- 1660Founding of Westfield
- from 1660 to 1725Rise of Classicism
- 1660Birth of Daniel Defoe
- from 1660 to 1714Stuart Restoration
- 1660Founding of Franklin
- c. 1660Eruption of Long Island
- 3 May 1660Treaty of Oliva
More in Art, literature & culture
- 15th centuryConstruction of Red Square
- 1600Rise of Baroque music
- 1602Publication of Hamlet
- c. 1653The Taj Mahal is completed
- 17th centuryRise of ukiyo-e
- October 1745Publication of God Save the King
The era
This moment belongs to the Early modern world (1500 CE to 1760 CE), voyages, printing and new ideas. You can also browse everything in the 17th century.