John Wilkes

See also: Wilkes

John Wilkes (October 17th 1727 - December 26th 1797), politician and British Journalist . Appointed with the Parliament of Westminster, Lord Mayor of London, his name remains attached to the scandals and the riots which its articles and its combat for freedom of the press caused, parliamentary inviolability and right of the middle-classes to elect their representatives.

It was at the origin of a famous business under the reign of George III known in France under the name of Wilkes business, or to distinguish it from the " second Wilkes" business; , business of the Printers or business of the North Briton . It falls under a context of popular discontent in London at the following days with the Guerre Seven Year old . It revealed the intentions of the king George III to affirm her capacity, after the relative weakness of its two predecessors.

Biography

Wire of craftsman London distillor, John Wilkes very early expressed the taste of the scandal and married radical political opinions. Its way of life very criticized, brought it closer to clandestine politico-libertines mediums in activities in London in the years 1750 and in particular the sulfurous Hellfire Club . In 1757, after a first failure, he is elected with the House of Commons by the voters of Aylesbury . In 1762, in favor of William Pitt Old the, it founds the newspaper The North Briton to defend its sights and a radical program near to the group whig of the tendency of Sir Francis Dashwood. He was freemason.

In the first numbers it multiplies the virulent attacks against the government and in particular against Lord Bute, minister of Scottish origin perceived by the opinion like one intriguing foreign. But soon, in the forty fifth number, it is the person even of the king who is taken for target. It east continued for insult and " make out séditieux" , judged, imprisoned with the tower of London. Many his/her political friends give up it. However, its lawsuit occupied the spirits of all the Londoners. Part of the average and popular layers of the city was indignant at the fate which was reserved to him and of the riots them riots wilkesites- burst in 1763. It was very quickly released with the favor of this movement of popular adhesion which knew many overflows. The people carry it in triumph. A slogan appears: " Wilkes & Liberty". A divorce between the middle-classes and popular with the political community seems to appear. For one of the first times in the British political history, the dispute find forms of expressions popular and extra-members of Parliament.

After a French exile, where it is accommodated triumphantly by the men of letters close to the " party philosophique" , it returns clandestinely to London and is started again in the political life. Because in 1768 are held of the elections for the renewal of the House of Commons. He is re-elected in 1768, with a vast majority, by the county of Middlesex which includes/understands most of the working population of London. The people express his solidarity with his elected official and gather with the Saint-Georges Fields. The every day crowd presses itself there. May 10th, 1768, the spirits warm up, the police force in low number loses their cold blood and makes fire. Ten people are mortally wounded. This event which takes value of symbol is known under the name of Massacre of the Fields of Saint-Georges .
The calm one is restored but Wilkes remains in prison. With the end of the year 1768, it writes a lampoon according to which Grafston carries the full and entire responsibility of the shooting. This last asks for the exclusion of Wilkes of the Communes. By three times the Parliament invalidates the election of Wilkes which is re-elected by twice.

The third time, Grafston requires of colonel Luttrel to arise against Wilkes and to some extent to be sacrificed. Invalidation is renewed on April 15th, 1769. This act of the Parliament deeply shocked the opinion of the Londoners. Many Britanniques estimate that the Parliament discredited itself, compromised itself with the royal capacity. The freedom of the voters seems to have ridiculed. This second business is at the origin of the creation of transitory Société of the Bill off Rights . During the years 1770, it supports the claims, without perhaps seizing the range of it, of the American Insurgents.

The range of its action

Its theatrical action raises the question of a parliamentary reform and limits of the royal prerogatives vis-a-vis the House of Commons. Wilkes then seems the “champion of freedom”, demagog who profits from supports middle-classes and which collect the favors of the small people of London, tradesmen and craftsmen. It incarnates perseverance against a perceived political system been subject to the rules of the clientelism and corruption.
In the years 1780, Wilkes lines up in the camp of the tradition, it defends thus, the weapons with the hand, its district vis-a-vis the rioters, at the time of the Gordon Riots .

Biography

  • Peter Ackroyd, London, the biography , translation of Bernard Tulre, Stock, 2003.
  • Bernard Cottret (to dir.), History of British Isles of 16th to the 18esiècles , A. Colin, Paris, 2005.
  • Bernard Cottret, History of England. Of William the Conqueror at our days, Paris, Tallandier, January 2007.
  • Hard George, Wilkes and Liberty: With Social Study off 1763 to 1774 , Clarendon Near, Oxford, 1962.

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