Daniel Defoe (; c. 166024 April 1731), born
Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist,
pamphleteer, and spy, most famous for his novel
Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is noted for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain with others such as
Samuel Richardson, and is among the founders of the
English novel. He was a prolific and versatile writer, producing more than five hundred books, pamphlets, and journals on various topics, including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology, and the supernatural. He was also a pioneer of
economic journalism.