Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) was an English historian and Member of Parliament. He is best known for his monumental work The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, which traces the history of the Roman Empire from the 2nd century AD to its collapse in the 15th century. Gibbon's work is considered one of the greatest works of history ever written and has been praised for its erudition and style. He was also a prolific writer of essays and letters, and was a noted wit and conversationalist. He was a major influence on the development of historiography and is remembered as one of the most important figures in the Enlightenment.