Robert Blincoe (c. 1792–1860) an orphan, living in the St. Pancras workhouse in London. He became known for his "autobiography" about his harsh childhood in English cotton mills. The story, told to journalist John Brown, was published posthumously in 1832 as A Memoir of Robert Blincoe. While some believe Charles Dickens based Oliver Twist on Blincoe, there is no concrete evidence. Blincoe's memoir helped highlight the dangers of child labor and contributed to reforms limiting working hours and improving conditions for child workers.