The Life of Daniel Defoe

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing
Writer: John J. Richetti

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Daniel Defoe (1660-1731), the son of a butcher, was born in London in 1660. He attended Morton's Academy, a school for Dissenters at Newington Green with the intention of becoming a minister, but he changed his mind and became a hosiery merchant instead.

In 1685 Defoe took part in the Monmouth Rebellion and joined William III and his advancing army. Defoe became popular with the king after the publication of his poem, The True Born Englishman (1701). The poem attacked those who were prejudiced against having a king of foreign birth.

The publication of Defoe's The Shortest Way with the Dissenters (1702) upset a large number of powerful people. Defoe was fined, put in the Charing Cross Pillory and then sent to Newgate Prison.

In 1703 Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, a government official, employed Defoe as a spy. With the support of the government, Defoe started the newspaper, The Review. Defoe also wrote several pamphlets for Harley attacking the political opposition. The Whigs took Defoe court and this resulted in him serving another prison sentence.

In 1719 Defoe turned to writing fiction. His novels include: Robinson Crusoe (1719), Captain Singleton (1720), Journal of the Plague Year (1722), Captain Jack (1722), Moll Flanders (1722) and Roxanda (1724). Defoe published over 560 books and pamphlets and is considered to be the founder of British journalism. Daniel Defoe died in 1731.



Daniel Defoe (London, 1660 - 1731) adalah anak seorang tukang daging. Dengan tujuan menjadi seorang menteri, ia bersekolah di Morton's Academy, sebuah sekolah untuk orang-orang yang berpandangan politik berlawanan dari pandangan politik mayoritas saat itu, di Newington Green. Tapi kemudian ia berubah pikiran dan menjadi pedagang pakaian.

Tahun 1685, Defoe mengambil bagian dalam pemberontakan Monmouth dan bergabung dengan pasukan William III. Defoe menjadi popular setelah puisinya yang berjudul The True Born Englishman (1701) terbit. Puisinya itu menyerang mereka yang berprasangka terhadap raja keturunan asing. Publikasi atas karyanya, The Shortest Way with the Dissenters (1702), mengecewakan para penguasa. Defoe kemudian dipenjara di Newgate Prison.

Pada tahun 1703, Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, seorang pejabat pemerintah mempekerjakan Defoe sebagai mata-mata. Dengan dukungan dari pemerintah, Defoe membangun sebuah surat kabar, The Review. Defoe juga menulis beberapa pamflet yang menyerang pihak oposisi. Akibatnya, ia dipenjara lagi.

Tahun 1719, ia beralih menjadi penulis fiksi. Novel-novelnya antara lain adalah Robinson Crusoe (1719), Captain Singleton (1720), Journal of the Plague Year (1722), Captain Jack (1722), Moll Flanders (1722) dan Roxanda (1724). Sepanjang hidupnya, Defoe menulis lebih dari 560 buku dan pamflet. Ia juga merupakan salah satu pendiri jurnalistik Inggris. Defoe wafat pada tahun 1731. (www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ly)