He married Mary Tuffley in 1684. They had 6 children.

He was a Dissenter throughout his life. That is, he did not support the established church. In fact he was a Presbyterian.
His life was very varied: traveller (over most of Europe), tradesman, pamphleteer, adventurer (he took part in the Monmouth Rebellion), bankrupt, convict, spy, newspaper-publisher and, most importantly, a writer. He is credited with being the author of over 250 published writings covering all manner of topics from economics to fiction.

In 1702 he wrote a pamphlet entitled The Shortest Way with the Dissenters. It was a satirical send-up (remember he was himself was a Dissenter) which so outraged the powers-that-be that they had him put in the stocks. However, this proved to be no great punishment as he was popular with the ordinary people and they came round, not to pelt him with rotten tomatoes, but to chat and drink his health! Then, whilst in prison, he wrote a Hymn to the Pillory.

He was nearly 60 when he turned to writing the sort of fiction which has kept his name alive for over 4 centuries. First was Robinson Crusoe which started in serial form in 1719 and has earned him the reputation of being among the first of the English novelists.

He died on 24 April 1731 in London, aged 71.

Some of his best-known works are:
1719   Robinson Crusoe
1722   Moll Flanders
1722   A Journal of the Plague Year
1724   Memoirs of a Cavalier
1724   Roxana (or, The Fortunate Mistress)