T. (Tobias) Smollett

Born in Scotland in 1721, he trained in medicine before moving to London and serving as a naval surgeon’s mate. That firsthand experience fed into his fiction, especially its vivid action, sharp humor, and close attention to the messier sides of everyday life.

He is remembered above all for novels including The Adventures of Roderick Random, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, and The Expedition of Humphry Clinker. His work is often described as picaresque: fast-moving, episodic, and packed with memorable characters, satire, and travel.

He also worked as a translator, historian, editor, and critic, making him one of the busiest literary figures of his time. He died in 1771 near Livorno, Italy, but his energetic, comic style continued to influence later novelists.