Addison's literary partner was Richard Steele, an English writer and politician. He was a co-founder of the magazine The Tatler, which was published in 1709 and ran for two years. Steele also wrote for The Spectator, a periodical that was published from 1711 to 1712 and was co-authored by Addison. Steele was a major influence on the development of the English essay and was known for his wit and satire.