John Wilkes

John Wilkes Historical Figure Nationality: United Kingdom Year of Birth: 1725 Year of Death: 1797 Cause of Death: Natural causes - marasmus Religion: Anglicanism Occupation: Politician, Author of Non-Fiction, Journalist, Judge, Poet, Police, Soldier Spouse: Mary Meade (separated 1756, d. 1784) Children: Three Political Party: Radicals Political Office(s): Member of Parliament for Aylesbury, then Middlesex; Lord Mayor of London Fictional Appearances: The Two Georges POD: c. 1763 Type of Appearance: Posthumous reference Date of Death: Unrevealed

John Wilkes (17 October 1725 - 26 December 1797) was an English radical, journalist and politician.

In the Middlesex election dispute, he fought for the right of voters — rather than the House of Commons — to determine their representatives. 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. Wilkes' increasing conservatism as he grew older caused dissatisfaction among radicals and was instrumental in the loss of his Middlesex seat at the 1790 general election. Wilkes then retired from politics and took no part in the growth of radicalism in the 1790s.

John Wilkes in The Two Georges

John Wilkes was depicted in the Thomas Gainsborough painting The Two Georges, even though he was not actually present at the event depicted.

References

Political offices (OTL)
Preceded by Thomas Potter, John Willes	Member of Parliament for Aylesbury 1757-1764 (shared position)	Succeeded by Welbore Ellis, Anthony Bacon
Preceded by Sir William Beauchamp-Proctor, George Cooke	Member of Parliament for Middlesex 1768–1769 (shared position)	Succeeded by John Glynn, Henry Luttrell
Preceded by Frederick Bull	Lord Mayor of London 1774-1775	Succeeded by John Sawbridge
Preceded by John Glynn, Henry Luttrell	Member of Parliament for Middlesex 1774-1790 (shared position)	Succeeded by William Mainwaring, George Byng