Born 1689.—Died 1761.—William III.—Anne.—George I.—George II.—George III.

This celebrated novelist was born in Derbyshire. He was educated at Christ’s Hospital, and began life as a printer. He was the first English writer of fiction who, in Sir Charles Grandison, avoided the coarseness which disfigures Smollett’s and Fielding’s works. He wrote also Pamela and Clarissa Harlowe, which have been translated into most of the European languages.