John Wilkes (1725-1797) was a British journalist, politician and a radical. Although he was, undeniably a charlatan, Cicero’s Tenant contends that Wilke’s courageous, literate radicalism actually opened up more freedoms for the press, the people and even politicians than the reactionary document, the Magna Carta ever achieved. CT will develop this thesis over a three part segment.

Wilkes was a ‘partier’ in today’s parlance, in the 18th century they called him a ‘profligate.’ Young Wilkes was a member of the Hell-Fire Club(1) whom mired themselves in debauchery-wine, women and song-as well as performing so called, ‘Black Masses.’

By all accounts John Wilkes has a homely, ugly man who had an awful squint ; Wilkes himself acknowledged his homeliness. Wilkes many times would comment, “that it took him only half an hour to talk away his face”, However, his charm and dark wit were more than enough compensation for his lack of physical attraction (2).

In 1757 Wilkes ran for Parliament and even though he bribed a ship captain to take voters opposed to Wilkes from London to Norway when they were to land in Berwick, he still lost the election and thousands of pounds. Wilkes was never good with money either spending it lavishly or working on shady schemes to obtain more. After the failed election Wilkes was deeply in debt.

Wilkes tried again and won election for Middlesex later in 1757. During the Middlesex election campaigned, Wilkes fought for the right of his voters—rather than the House of Commons—to appoint their representatives which was the prevailing custom.

In 1762, Wilkes (3) also became a journalist, actually the author and co-owner of the anonymously penned, ‘The North Briton’ (5), working with rich patrons to stir up the historic English distaste for the Scots for political purposes. Wilkes also wrote in the weekly newspaper of the relationship, sexual affair between Prime Minister Lord Bute (1713-1792; Prime Minister 1762-1763) and King George III’s (born 1738,reigned 1760-1810, died 1820) Mother, Dowager Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha (1719-1792). It was quite risque for the times to put this type of scandal in print. The North Briton was a type of tabloid in its day, but a highly intellectual one which current tabloids certainly are not.

Wilkes, or, rather The North Briton, was partly responsible for Bute’s retirement of his prime ministry in 1763. The North Briton, in the infamous #45 edition, brought big troubles to Wilkes. Below are some especially violent accusations from the infamous ’45’ against the King’s Minister’s speech and to some extent, the King himself:

The King’s Speech has always been considered by the legislature, and by the public at large, as the Speech of the Minister … The Speech at the close of the session, has ever been considered as the most secure method of promulgating the favourite court creed among the vulgar; because the parliament, which is the constitutional guardian of the liberties of the people, has in this case no opportunity of remonstrating, or of impeaching any wicked servant of the crown.

This week has given the public the most abandoned instance of ministerial effrontery ever attempted to be imposed on mankind. The ministers speech of last Tuesday, is not to be paralleled in the annals of this country. I am in doubt, whether the imposition is greater on the sovereign, or on the nation. Every friend of his country must lament that a prince of so many great and amiable qualities, whom England truly reveres, can be brought to give the sanction of his sacred name to the most odious measures, and to the most unjustifiable, public declarations.”⁶

The “King’s Speech” was written by Prime Minister Lord Bute which was the tradition though it was never explicitly stated that it was not the King’s speech. The new King’s Ministers were incensed and, far worse, revengeful-especially with the ’45’ explicit Jacobite symbolism (7). It wasn’t difficult for the King’s Minster’s to convince King George III, who was already incredibly annoyed that Wilkes had gossiped about his mother sexual amours, to issue a General Warrant (8) for the ‘seditious’ author of ’45’.

The General Warrants had no names on it, forty eight people were seized in the search for the for evidence till Wilkes himself was arrested and thrown in the Tower of London(9). Luckily, Lord Chief Justice Pratt let him go from the Tower as his Lordship considered Wilkes speech ‘privileged’ as he was a sitting member of Parliament. This was hugely popular with the English public such that Wilkes became a hero for the people (the ‘London mob’) and the radicals. However, this brief ‘victory’ was but the first skirmish in a long war between the British establishment and the mercurial Wilkes.

Still Wilkes kept his ‘wits’ about him. Around this time, in a verbal tryst with John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718 - 1892) and former cabinet minister- at a Gentleman’s Club, this former friend of Wilkes, now a sworn enemy, the Earl asserted to Wilkes, “Sir, I do not know whether you will die on the gallows or of the pox,” Wilkes quickly retorted, “That depends, my Lord, on whether I embrace your lordship’s principles or your mistress.”