John Wilkes

John Wilkes (17 October 1725 – 26 December 1797) was an English radical journalist and politician, as well as a magistrate, essayist and soldier. He was first elected a Member of Parliament in 1757. In the Middlesex election dispute, he fought for the right of his votersrather than the House of Commonsto determine their representatives. In 1768, angry protests of his supporters were suppressed in the Massacre of St George's Fields. In 1771, he was instrumental in obliging the government to concede the right of printers to publish verbatim accounts of parliamentary debates. In 1776, he introduced the first bill for parliamentary reform in the British Parliament.

During the American War of Independence, he was a supporter of the rebels, adding further to his popularity with American Whigs. In 1780, however, he commanded militia forces which helped put down the Gordon Riots, damaging his popularity with many radicals. This marked a turning point, leading him to embrace increasingly conservative policies which caused dissatisfaction among the radical low-to-middle income landowners. This was instrumental in the loss of his Middlesex parliamentary seat in the 1790 general election. At the age of 65, Wilkes retired from politics and took no part in the social reforms following the French Revolution, such as Catholic Emancipation in the 1790s. During his life, he earned a reputation as a libertine. Provided by Wikipedia

1
by Wilkes, John
Published 1763
printed for J. Williams

2
by Wilkes, John
Published 1767
printed for J. Almon, opposite Burlington-House, Piccadilly

10
by Wilkes, John
Published 1769
Printed for T. Marsh, in Black-Friars, and sold by all the news-carriers in town and country

11
by Wilkes, John
Published 1769
Printed for T. Marsh, in Black-Friars, and sold by all the news-carriers in town and country

12
by Wilkes, John
Published 1788
Printed for James Hay, and sold by all booksellers in town and country

14
by Wilkes, John
Published 1787
printed for G. G. J. and J. Robinson, Pater-Noster Row

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by Wilkes, John
Published 1763
s.n

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by Wilkes, John
Published 1764
Printed for W. Nicoll, in St. Paul's Church-Yard