WILKES

John, was born in 1727. He entered Parliament in 1757, and attained notoriety by publishing a paper called the “ North Briton,” in one number of which he commented severely on the King’s speech to Parliament in 1763- He and others were committed to the Tower, but were released, as the prosecution was declared illegal and in 1764 a special law was pa ed by which he; was expelled from Parliament. As he remained in France instead of coming to receive sentence, he was outlawed. He made several attempts aftewards to get back into Will Parliament, but he failed, and was imprisoned, and that gave rise to agitations in favour of ‘Wilkes and liberty.’ He was released from prison in 1770, and eventually become Lord-Mayor of London. He published many speeches and pamphlets; and he died in 1797.