Richard Steele

Richard Steele (1672–1729) was an Irish-born English essayist, playwright, and politician, celebrated for his role in shaping the periodical essay. Educated at Charterhouse and Oxford, he left without a degree to join the army. In 1709, he founded the Tatler, writing under the pseudonym Isaac Bickerstaff, blending news with moral and social critique. With Joseph Addison, he then co-founded the Spectator (1711–1712), whose essays on manners, virtue, and urban life defined the Augustan age. Steele also wrote several plays, including The Conscious Lovers (1722), a sentimental comedy that championed reformed morality on stage. His political career included a knighthood and a seat in Parliament. Steele's legacy lies in his pioneering use of accessible prose to elevate public discourse, influencing the development of the novel and modern journalism.