Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 – 8 October 1754) was a writer and
magistrate. He wrote many plays from 1728 until 1737. Then, he
wrote many famous novels such asTom Jones, Joseph Andrews, and
Amelia. He was friends with the writers Samuel Johnson and
Christopher Smart and the politician William Pitt the Elder.
Fielding went to school at Eton College. In 1728, he left school
to go to London and write plays. The License Act shut down the
London theatre in 1737 and Fielding began to write novels. Then,
he became a magistrate and created the Bow Street Runners,
London's first police force.