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Why did Daniel Defoe join the Duke of Monmouth’s rebellion against James II?
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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 joined the rebellion led by the Duke of Monmouth in 1685 primarily because he was a staunch Dissenter who opposed the accession of the Roman Catholic King James II.1
Defoe’s participation in the uprising was driven by his religious convictions and his characteristic impetuosity. Following the defeat of the rebel forces at the Battle of Sedgemoor, Defoe managed to escape capture.1