Early Life

Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England. That year George IV was King and England was fighting America in the War of 1812. Dickens was the second of eight children, and his family was very poor. His father, John Dickens, dreamed of striking it rich; however, he spent more than he earned as a naval clerk. When Charles was 12, his father was sent to debtor's prison. Charles was then forced to leave school to work at a boot-blacking factory. He later said he felt betrayed by the adults that were supposed to take care of him.