Wilkes, John

Wilkes, John
(1727-1797)
   Politician, s. of a distiller in London, was ed. at Leyden. Witty, resourceful, but unprincipled and profligate, he became from circumstances the representative and champion of important political principles, including that of free representation in Parliament. His writings have nothing of the brilliance and point of his social exhibitions, but his paper, The North Briton, and especially the famous "No. 45," in which he charged George III. with uttering a falsehood in his speech from the throne, caused so much excitement, and led to such important results that they give him a place in literature. He also wrote a highly offensive Essay on Woman. W. was expelled from the House of Commons and outlawed, but such was the strength of the cause which he championed that, notwithstanding the worthlessness of his character, his right to sit in the House was ultimately admitted in 1774, and he continued to sit until 1790. He was also Lord Mayor of London.

Short biographical dictionary of English literature . . 2011.

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  • Wilkes,John — Wilkes, John. 1727 1797. British political reformer noted for his published attacks on George III and for his support of the rights of American colonists. * * * …   Universalium

  • Wilkes, John — born Oct. 17, 1725, London, Eng. died Dec. 26, 1797, London English politician. The son of a successful malt distiller, he was educated at an academy at Hertford and afterward privately tutored. His marriage to Mary Meade (1747), heiress of the… …   Universalium

  • WILKES, JOHN —    a notable figure in the English political world of the 18th century, born in Clerkenwell, son of a distiller; was elected M.P. for Aylesbury in 1761; started a periodical called the North Briton, in No. 45 of which he published an offensive… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

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  • WILKES (J.) — WILKES JOHN (1727 1797) Riche Londonien, entré au Parlement en 1757, Wilkes conquiert la notoriété par son action en faveur des libertés à l’époque de la tentative autoritaire du nouveau roi d’Angleterre, George III. Fondateur, en 1762, du… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

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