The True-Born Englishman: A Satire

by Daniel Defoe

"The True-Born Englishman: A Satire" by Daniel Defoe is a satirical poem published in 1701 defending Dutch-born King William III against xenophobic attacks in England. The poem argues that the English nation itself was formed by waves of European immigrants—from Ancient Britons to Anglo-Saxons and Normans—making it absurd to despise foreigners. Defoe challenges his countrymen to recognize that "we are really all Foreigners our selves." The work became an instant bestseller and later influenced discussions on nationalism.