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How did Daniel Defoe act as an intelligence agent during his political career?
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Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe, engraving by M. Van der Gucht, after a portrait by J. Taverner, first half of the 18th century.
Daniel Defoe’s role as an intelligence agent began after he was released from prison, when he entered into an agreement with Robert Harley to serve as a pamphleteer and secret agent.1
Throughout his career, Defoe acted as an intelligence operative by:
- Traveling and Reporting: He traveled extensively, including multiple visits to Scotland around the time of the Act of Union, to provide Harley with detailed reports, minutes of advice, and assessments of public opinion.1
- Infiltration: Later, while serving the Whigs, he acted as a secret agent by infiltrating extremist Tory journals to tone down their rhetoric.2
- Political Advocacy: He utilized his periodical, the Review, as a primary government organ to influence public discourse and support the political line of his employers.1
While critics have accused him of double-dealing and venality due to his service to both Tory and Whig administrations, Defoe maintained that his actions were justified by the goal of championing political moderation.2