Samuel Pepys

1633-1703. English naval administrator and, in later years, Member of Parliament. Famous for his diary, which he kept during the 1660s, thus chronicling major events of the Restoration, including the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London, and offering valuable insights in the private and public life of the period. A wonderful busybody who happened to be almost everywhere and met almost everyone. Rose from rather humble origins to a quite prominent position in administration. Good example for the principle of meritocracy. Was, however, also promoted and supported by his patron (and distant relative), Lord Sandwich (who did not invent the Sandwich), proving that the old principle of birth, patronage and clan-networking had not died. Also typical of the Restoration period as he was married and had several mistresses. After the early death of his "poor wife" (as he liked to call her), he did not remarry, but cohabited with one of his mistresses.