Daniel Defoe

Daniel Defoe was born around 1660 in London, the son of a tallow chandler named James Foe. He later added the "De" to his name to make it grander. He was raised a Protestant Dissenter, which meant the old universities were closed to him, so he studied at a Dissenting academy and went into trade. He sold hosiery, wine, and tobacco. He failed at it more than once, and debt shadowed him his whole life.