Daniel Defoe was born in 1660 in England. He studied to be a Presbyterian minister but later abandoned his studies to enter business, including hosiery, woolen goods, and wine. In 1684 he married and had eight children. In 1692 he was arrested for debts and declared bankruptcy. Defoe then became a prolific writer, publishing pamphlets, journals, and novels. As the father of the English novel, he pioneered first-person narration and the portrayal of realistic characters and misfortunes. In his later years, he wrote conduct manuals and guides before dying in poverty in 1731.