previous            A–Z            next        Daniel Foe Pseudonyms:        A Citizen Who lives the Whole Time in London        A Converted Thief        A Familiar Spirit        A Freeholder        A Gentleman        A Layman        A Member        A Member of the Honourable House of Commons        A Ministering Friend of the People Called Quakers        A Sufferer        A.A.A.        A.B.        A.G.        A.M.G.        A.Z.        Abed        Abel Peaceable        Abigail        All-Hide        Aminadab        An English Gentleman        An Englishman at the Court of Hanover        Ancient        Andrew Moreton, Merchant        Andrew Newport        Andronicus        Anglipolski of Lithuania        Anne        Anthony Antiplot        Anthony Broadheart        Anthony Impartiality        Anthony Quiet        Anthony Tom Richard        Anti-Bubble        Anti-Bubbler        Anti-Italik        Anti-Jobber        Anti-King-Killer        Anti-Pope        Antiaethiops        Antiplot        Anticationist        Antisycoph        Arine Donna Quixota        Autho’ Hubble Bubble        Bankrupt        Barinda        Betty Blueskin        Boatswain Trinkolo        Bubble        C.M.        Callipedia        Cataline        Caution        Celibacy        Chesapeake        Christopher Carefull        Combustion        Conscientia        Count Kidney Face        Coventry        Credulous        D—        D.D.F.        D.F., Gent        Dan D. F-e        Daniel De Foe        Daniel Defoe        Democritus        Diogenes        E.S..        Eleanor        Elevator        Enigma        Epidemicus        Eye Witness        Fello De Se        Florentina        Frank Faithfull        Furioso        Furious        G.        G.B.        G.M.        G.T.        G.Y.        Grateful        Gunpowder        Gyaris        H.        H.R.        Harry Freeman        Hen. Antifogger, Jr.        Henry Caution, Jr.        Henry Fancy, Jr.        Hubble Bubble        Humanity        Hushai        Jack Indifferent        Jeffrey Sing-Song        Jeremiah Dry-Boots        John-John        Jonathan Problematick        Journal        L.L.L.        L.M. Regibus        Lady Marjory        Leicestershire        Leonard Love-Wit        Libertas        Liberty        Lionel Lye-Alone        Livery Man        M.G.        Meeting House        Meteor             Miranda Meanwell        Miser        Misericordia        Modern        Moll        Mr. Eminent        Mrs. Philo-Britannia        Myra        N—Upon Trent        N.B.        Nelly        New Whig        Nicety        Nicholas Boggle        Obadiah Blue Hat        Oliver Oldway        One, Two, Three, Four        Orthodox        P. Ivy        Patience        Penelope Fireband        Phil-Atguros        Philo-Royalist        Philygia        Protestant Neutrality        Prudential        Quarantine        Quietness        Quinquampois        R.R.        R.S.        Rebel        S.        S.B.        Same Friend Who Wrote to Thomas Bradbury, etc.             Sempronicus        Sincerity        Sir Fopling Tittle-Tattle        Sir Malcontent Chagrin        Sir Timothy Caution        Solomon Waryman            Spanish        T. Experience        T. Sadler        T. Taylor        T.B.        T.E.        T.L.        Talionis        Tea-Table        Termagant        The Author of the 'Trueborn Englishman'        The Corporal        The Enquirer        The Farmer        The Father of Modern Prose Fiction        The Inoculator        The New Convert        The Sunny Gentleman        The Trustee        Theo-Philo        Theophilus Lovewit        Thomas Horncastle        Thunder-Bolt        Timothy Triffle        Tom A. Bedlam        Tom Bankrupt        Tom Beadle        Tom Manywife        Tom Turbulent        Tranquility        True Love        Urgentissimus        Vale        W.L.        Wallnutshire        William Bond Daniel Foe (1660–1731) was an English trader, writer, journalist, pamphleteer and spy, now most famous for his novel 'Robinson Crusoe'. It is believed that the original name on the novel was Foe, although it may indeed have been Defoe. The ‘De’ derives from the fact that he was known as Mr. D. Foe to distinguish him from his father, James Foe. If so, this was a happy acquisition, ‘De’ implies an aristocratic ancestry; on occasion Foe claimed descent from the family of De Beau Faux.        Defoe, notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain, he was a prolific and versatile writer, he wrote books, pamphlets and journals on various topics (including politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology and the supernatural). He was also a pioneer of economic journalism.        Defoe entered the world of business as a general merchant, dealing at different times in hosiery, general woollen goods and wine. Though his ambitions were great and he was able to buy both a country estate and a ship (as well as civet cats to make perfume), he was rarely out of debt. He participated in several failing businesses, facing bankruptcy and aggressive creditors.        King William III was crowned in 1688, and Defoe immediately became one of his close allies and a secret agent. Some of the new king's policies, however, led to conflict with France, thus damaging prosperous trade relationships for Defoe.        In 1702 the death of William III created a political upheaval as the king was replaced by Queen Anne, who immediately began her offensive against Nonconformists. Defoe being a natural target, his pamphleteering and political activities resulted in his arrest and placement in a pillory, principally on account of his pamphlet entitled ‘The Shortest-Way with the Dissenters; Or, Proposals for the Establishment of the Church, purporting to argue for their extermination’. Though it was published anonymously, the true authorship was quickly discovered and Defoe was arrested and charged with seditious libel.        According to legend, the publication of his poem ‘Hymn to the Pillory’ caused his audience at the pillory to throw flowers instead of the customary harmful and noxious objects and to drink to his health. No fewer than 545 titles, ranging from satirical poems, political and religious pamphlets and volumes have been ascribed to Defoe under at least 198 pen names. Sources: ‘Daniel Defoe’, Wikipedia, retrieved 14 September 2013 Room, A. (1981), ‘Name Stories’, Naming Names, p.91 Room, A. (1981), ‘Defoe’s Pseudonyms’, Naming Names, pp.335–337 previous            A–Z            next