Smollett, Tobias: - Tobias Smollett was a Scottish novelist, poet, and journalist who was born in 1721 in Dalquhurn, Scotland. He studied medicine in Glasgow and worked as a surgeon's mate in the Royal Navy, an experience that inspired his writing in later years. Smollett's first published work was "The Regicide," a play that was staged in 1749. He went on to write a number of novels, including "The Adventures of Roderick Random" (1748), "The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle" (1751), and "The Expedition of Humphry Clinker" (1771), all of which were popular and influential in their time. In addition to his literary work, Smollett was a journalist and editor, and he wrote political and social commentary for a number of newspapers and magazines. He was also a translator, and he translated a number of works from French and Italian into English. Smollett was known for his satirical and humorous writing style, and his works often reflected his experiences in the military and his observations of society. He died in Italy in 1771 at the age of 50, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most significant writers of the 18th century.