Flower power

On July 31, 1703, Daniel Defoe was placed in a pillory for the crime of seditious libel after publishing a politically satirical pamphlet, but he was pelted with flowers. From the article:

"Author Daniel Defoe placed in a pillory
He was secured in a historic instrument of public humiliation - for the crime of “seditious libel”, after publishing a pamphlet satirising contemporary politicians.
The public, however, expressed support for Defoe's opinions by pelting him with flowers rather than rotten fruit.

Best known for the desert island novel Robinson Crusoe, Defoe's hugely varied career included journalism, trade and spying for William III.

He was amazingly prolific, writing more than 500 works covering politics, crime, religion, marriage, psychology and the supernatural. Defoe may have considered his day in a pillory as time off.

Defoe was born plain old Foe around 1660, but added "De" for fake aristocratic kudos. Though claiming a posh pedigree, his father was a humble candlemaker. The young Defoe lived through hugely dramatic events, including the Great Fire of London, a Dutch naval attack on the Thames and the Great Plague.

Defoe's later book, A Journal of the Plague Year, is arguably among the first works of "faction" (fictionalised journalism).

Defoe's often debt-ridden business life included running a brick factory and keeping civets for perfume making. Variety is the spice of life..."