Born October 17, 1725
London, England
Died December 26, 1797
London, England

Political leader, writer, publisher

John Wilkes was a London radical who favored revolutionary changes in England's political structure. His newspaper articles irritated King George III (see entry) and British lawmakers (Parliament) so much that he was several times expelled from his seat in Parliament. The public was outraged over this treatment, and the important question was raised—whether Parliament could ignore the will of voters. Wilkes became known as a champion of the common people and a crusader for freedom of the press and the reform of Parliament. American colonists made a hero out of him because of his support for the American Revolution (1775–83).

John Wilkes was the second son and one of five children born to Israel Wilkes, a London malt distiller (a maker of...