Daniel Defoe

Writer

Born: c. 1661
Died: 24 April 1731 (natural causes)
Birthplace: England
Best known as: The author of Robinson Crusoe

Name at birth: Daniel Foe

Daniel Defoe is generally considered to be England's first true novelist. His book Robinson Crusoe (1719), the tale of a sailor shipwrecked alone on a deserted island, is a classic of English literature. (The novel was based on the true-life story of Alexander Selkirk.) Defoe also wrote the well-known novel Moll Flanders (1722) and the lesser-known Roxana (1724) among many other works.

Extra credit: DeFoe was born as Daniel Foe, but later added the aristocratic-sounding "De" to his name.

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