Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament.
His magnum opus, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, was published in six volumes between 1776 and 1788.
Gibbon's work is renowned for its prose quality, use of primary sources, and criticism of organized religion.
After his father's death in 1770, Gibbon settled in London, joining social clubs and entering Parliament.
He began writing earnestly in 1773, publishing the first volume in 1776 to great acclaim.
Gibbon completed the final volumes during a stay in Lausanne, finishing the work in 1787.
The publication was met with praise from contemporary luminaries, establishing Gibbon's reputation as a preeminent historian.
