Miguel de Cervantes was a Spanish writer born in 1547, best known for his novel Don Quixote. This work is considered one of the first modern novels and has had a significant influence on literature. Cervantes' life was marked by various hardships, including imprisonment and financial difficulties. Cervantes served in the Spanish military and was captured by pirates, spending five years as a slave in Algiers. He later returned to Spain, where he continued to write until his death in 1616. His contributions to literature have earned him the title of one of the greatest writers in the Spanish language.