Richard Steele was an Irish writer and politician born in 1672 who is best known for founding The Spectator, a daily publication of essays that ran from 1711 to 1712. Some of Steele's other notable works included the plays The Tender Husband and The Drummer as well as works of prose and essays. The Spectator featured stories and essays written by Steele and his collaborator Joseph Addison that profiled six fictional members of a club who represented different segments of society, allowing the authors to comment on various social and political issues of the time through their perspectives.