Birth Of An Enigma

The son of James and Mary Foe, Daniel Defoe was born in London, in September 1660. There is controversy regarding his birthdate. No definite date could be deterred based on various sources. It is very difficult to come to any conclusion, except that he was born between July and October, 1660. Daniel was born amidst much political upheaval. Religion and choice of faith were the biggest issues of the time. Daniel's childhood was colored by such memories like, London streets filled with opposite groups defending their thoughts and interests. His memory also include the Great Plague of 1665. Thousands died in London and surrounding areas. The Foe family was miraculously saved due to foresight of James Foe.  He shifted his family at a safe place, with sufficient provision and descended in London streets only after the Plague had subsided. Little Daniel was not allowed to wander outdoor, though he could sun himself at the doorstep.

Next followed the calamity of fire. About a year later on September 2, 1666, early in the morning, a maid woke up Daniel informing him of the fire in the city. He was horrified at the sight from his window. The memories that remained with him rest of the life, said little, "how the despairing citizens looked on and saw the devastation of their buildings with a kind of stupidity." Within four days the fire destroyed almost half the London, leaving only the painful memories of its glorious past. The London that he loved and was covered by thick smoke and crying hearts.

Education   

Daniel was a strong willed person, but so was his mother. Once, Daniel refused to eat in order to have his own way in doing something. Mrs Foe accepted the challenge and Daniel had to go through starvation. The foes were very affectionate parents to Daniel, constantly nourishing his inquisitiveness and curious nature. The intelligent, active and enquiring little boy always came up with his insatiable thirst for knowledge and information. Even in his early education, his parents played an important part, as he was not given any formal education till 1674.

His mother was partly credited for Daniel's interest in scriptures and their meanings and style. When the Papists were rumored to have seized all the Bibles, little Daniel was given the task of copying both Old and New Testaments entirely. He was suddenly introduced to a full-fledged world of Gods and Devils. His young mind was tormented with the thoughts of witches, demons and sorcerers. He suffered from nightmares and the knowledge haunted him all through his life.

Formal Education

James Foe was a Dissenter. Thirteen years old Daniel was not admitted to either Oxford or Cambridge Universities as he did not take an oath of loyalty to the Church of England. He was sent to the excellent academy at Newington Green, administrated by Reverend Charles Morton. From Charles Morton, Defoe learned a vast deal; and the standard of Morton’s teaching was almost parallel to that of any English University. Defoe’s literary style was based on Morton’s clarity, simplicity and ease in writing style. His destiny was almost decided as his father wanted him to enter the church. Alongwith his study in classics, he learnt Latin and Greek as well as Spanish, French, Dutch and Italian. This, in fact, helped him in his career as a pamphleteer and a writer.

Change Of Action

As the years passed he felt more and more uncomfortable with the idea of becoming a minister. His leaning towards becoming a word-smith disturbed his parents. But, respecting his decision, James Foe invited him to join his business. Daniel, however, could not function as a butcher all his life. The changing traits of the London city and its merchants allured Daniel at this decision making moment. Trade was his "beloved subject" as well as one of the abiding interests in life. His first apprenticeship was with an importer of wine, Mr Charles Lodwick. Within a short span, Daniel proved his worth. At the same time the young enthusiast used his capacity to take initiative and to lead. During this time he traveled to Spain, France and Portugal as an agent or a negotiator. These tours provided him with vast knowledge and experiences as well as intimate relations. As he dealt in many commodities as a merchant, he had enough opportunities to travel, which helped him in becoming an intelligent economic theorist.

The Highs And Lows Of Life

Defoe had seen many ups-and-downs in his life. The market fluctuations affected Defoe's business and in those times Mary had to take help from her family and from her in-laws. He incurred a loss of £ 17,000. The main reason for his bankruptcy was the loss he incurred while insuring ships during the war with France. Within 10 years, however, he repaid all but £ 5000. Other reasons for his misfortune were his indulgence in rash speculations and projects, and his being less fastidious. He even characterized himself as one of those tradesmen who had "done things which their own principles condemned, which they are not ashamed to blush for." Misfortune dogged him continually.

He wrote of himself :
"No man has tasted differing fortunes more,
And thirteen times I have been rich and poor."

Change Of Name

Defoe was climbing the social ladder. He was moving in the company of upper class politicians and aristocrats. He found his surname 'Foe' to be a bit mediocre. To make it sound more respectable and gentlemanly he put a prefix 'De' before it, making it "Defoe'. Though he had to continue his business with his old surname only. He changed it legally nine years later.   

Fame (?)

What earned him his long desired fame because of his pamphlet and its effect on the contemporary political scenario. He was actively involved in politics and the politicians also used his oratory skills. He was assigned some unofficial duty to work the public opinion in favor of Scotland-England union. Though the details were never revealed, he was supposed to have helped the cause positively. The political disputes, in which Defoe was involved, were mainly between the Whigs and Tories. Whigs represented the "Low Churchmen", whereas Tories were the "High-Churchmen" or "highfliers".

Defoe also participated in the unsuccessful rebellion led by the Duke of Monmouth against the Roman Catholic King, King James II.

Pillioried

But all his affairs did not bring him fame. His 1703 pamphlet, The Shortest Way With The Dissenters lead him to pillar, a wooden-frame, with a space for hands and head, in which prisoners were placed for public ridicule. The foremost Dissenters, High Flyers made him pillioried. But people never turned up to throw rotten tomatoes, as was customary. They admired this True-Born Englishman too much to attempt such an action.

Owing to political offenses, he was imprisoned for sometime, and had to undergo further losses in 1713, as his bricks and tiles factory near Tilbury failed. Thereafter, he never actively engaged himself in trade. He continued with his word-trade, i.e. writing pamphlets.

The Novels

Robinson Crusoe his most popular novel was published on April 25, 1719. It was tremendously popular with the lower and lower middle class readers. His experiences of Newgate, while undergoing the imprisonment for a second time are reflected in Moll Flanders, a novel. This work established him as a social historian.

Later Years

He spent rest of his life mostly concentrating on writing. He also worked with a publisher named Mr Applebee, between 1720 to 1726, writing biographies of criminals. At the same time he worked on economic issues as well and wrote a travel book too. He was also associated with some newspapers.

Even the last years of his life were not free from legal controversies. He died under the burden of heavy debts, always hiding, now and then, from his creditors, on April 26, 1731, at his lodgings in Ropemaker’s Alley, Moorfields.