William Godwin was an English philosopher, political writer, and novelist, born in 1756. He is best known for his work "Political Justice," published in 1793, where he argued for individual liberty and the importance of reason in human affairs. Godwin is often considered one of the first proponents of anarchism, advocating for a society without government. In addition to his political writings, Godwin wrote novels, including "Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams," which explores themes of justice and morality. He was married to the famous feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft, and they had a daughter, Mary Shelley, who would go on to write "Frankenstein."