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Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) was an English naval administrator, Member of Parliament, and most famously a diarist. Born in London on February 23, 1633, Pepys was educated at Magdalene College, Cambridge. His early career revolved around the administrative and accounting duties in the Exchequer and the Admiralty. The height of his political career was marked by his appointment as Chief Secretary to the Admiralty under both King Charles II and King James II. Pepys is most renowned for the diary he maintained during a decade of his life from 1660 to 1669. 'The Diary of Samuel Pepys' stands as a crucial historical document, providing an intimate and detailed account of life in 17th-century London. The diary addresses major events such as the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. Pepys's work offers insights into the Restoration English society, including its politics, culture, and social practices. His diary, initially written in a cryptic shorthand, was deciphered and published in the 19th century, becoming one of the most important primary sources for the English Restoration period. Pepys's diaristic recordings, characterized by its vivid, candid, and often unfiltered observations, continue to be a subject of academic interest and are admired for their literary qualities, as well as their rich contribution to historical and cultural scholarship.
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