Daniel Defoe (1660 - 1731) was born as Daniel Foe in London. After his marriage with Mary Tuffler, he started his own business as a merchant. But he was not very successful, as he preferred to write critical texts instead of concentrating on his import and export trade. After his bankruptcy, he became deeply involved in the economic and political issues of his time. He became successful as an essayist and writer late in life. Robinson Crusoe, his most famous novel, was published in 1719.