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Samuel Pepys (1633–1703) is one of the greatest chroniclers of 17th-century England. Born into a modest family, he rose through patronage to become a senior naval administrator (Clerk of the Acts, then Secretary to the Admiralty). A highly capable civil servant, he carried out major reforms of the Royal Navy, fighting corruption and modernising administration, shipbuilding and logistics.He is best known for his Diary, written in shorthand from 1660 to 1669. This remarkably vivid, honest and often indiscreet personal record provides an unparalleled eyewitness account of Restoration London. It famously details the Great Plague of 1665, the Great Fire of London in 1666, court life, theatre, music, science, politics, and his own private affairs.Elected President of the Royal Society in 1684, Pepys embodied the intellectual curiosity of his age. After the Glorious Revolution of 1688, he retired from public life and died in 1703. Rediscovered and published in the 19th century, his Diary is now regarded as a literary masterpiece and an essential historical document. ► Vintage engraving circa late 19th century. Digital restoration by pictore. Authentic illustration free of artificial intelligence.