John Wilkes was a man who “had a reputation for wit and libertine”(Rude, 1962, p. 19) was famed for his satire. He was a man who openly ‘declared himself throughout a friend of liberty’ and promised he would act up to it. (Rude, 1962, p.18) His publication The North Britain, was born on June 6th 1792 (Rude, 1962, p. 20) and was to set off a large degree of support for Wilkes and his cause of liberty. The publication was a satirical commentary on the fact the new administration was over heavily staffed with Scots and over-tender to Scottish interest.” The publication exposed and ridiculed the government’s conduct of affairs… and heaped all manner of abuse on the Government and its friends…This proved to be vastly entertaining to some, while it roused the passionate anger and resentment of others.”(Rude, 1962, p. 21).
He won the favor of the many tiers of society, gentlemen, shopkeepers and craftsmen (Rude, 1962, p. 27) due to his humour and the raucous and scandalous commentary on the new administration. The common man had access to the publication and was inspired and angered by its contents. “Wilkes reinforced opposition attacks in Parliament by denouncing very unpopular tax that had been placed on cider as ‘odious and partial and a threat to liberty” (Thomas, 1996, p27).
The King’s Speech at the opening of Parliament on April 19th, 1763 riled Wilkes and his editors to release the 45th edition of The North Britain which seemed to accuse King George III of being a liar (Rude, 1962, p. 26). Even though Wilkes was a member of Parliament, he was not above the law, he was arrested and taken into custody. When he was brought from the tower to Westminster and it seemed that ‘The whole City of London was there to support him, when he addressed the judges in court he was cheered to the support of a large and sympathetic audience. When he left the court there were thunderous shouts of ‘Liberty! Liberty! Wilkes forever’ (Rude, 1962, p.27). He was a very calculated and intelligent man and used this skill to evoke a response to his audience in court. “The liberty of all peers and gentlemen, and, what touches me more sensibly, that of all the middling and inferior set of people, who stand most in need of protection, is in my case this day to be finally decided upon a question of such importance as to determine at once whether English Liberty shall be a reality or a shadow” (Rude, 1962, p.27).
Chief Justice Pratt concluded: That due to Wilkes position as a member of parliament he must be discharged. The Galleys erupted into cheers and shouts and as George Onslow reported to his father ‘the many thousand that escorted Wilkes home to his house were of a far higher rank than the common mob.” “Wilkes and Liberty” became the new slogan of Militant Radicalism and echoed throughout the streets of London (Rude, 1962, p.27).
John Wilkes was a man who used his wit to turn the public against the Government in order to expose the injustices in society. He claimed to stand for the common man and used his publication The North Britain to appeal to the many different levels of society through satire.
Rude, George, Wilkes and Liberty, A social study of 1763-1774: Oxford, Claredon Press, 1962.
Thomas, Peter D.G, John Wilkes, a Friend to Liberty: Oxford, Claredon Press, 1962.
Battle for the Ballot 