1821年前往倫敦,根據自身經歷寫成《一個英格蘭鴉片吸食者的自白》(Confessions of an English Opium-Eater),在《倫敦雜誌》(London Magazine)上發表,後來又以書的形式出版,由此他在文學界開始有了些名氣[15]。不久之後他前往蘇格蘭,曾在愛丁堡及其他城市定居。他的餘生均在蘇格蘭度過,最終在愛丁堡逝世。[16]
^Liukkonen, Petri. Thomas De Quincey. Books and Writers (kirjasto.sci.fi). Finland: Kuusankoski Public Library. (原始内容存档于10 October 2014).
^Lindop, Grevel. Quincey, Thomas Penson De (1785–1859). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. September 2004 [4 July 2010]. (原始内容存档于2016-03-05). Online edition available by subscription
^Confessions was first published in London Magazine in 1821. It was published in book form the following year. (Morrison, Robert. "Thomas De Quincey: Chronology." TDQ Homepage. Kingston: Queen's University, 2013. Archived copy. [2013-12-24]. (原始内容存档于2013).)