The North Briton
Colonial Americans were not the first or only people to chafe under British rule. A radical politician and journalist, John Wilkes criticized the British government and King of England on several occasions, resulting in his arrest in 1763, being found guilty of libel in 1764, and his imprisonment in 1769. This newspaper made history with its 45th issue, in which Wilkes directly criticized an address made to Parliament by King George III. This resulted in the King issuing a warrant for Wilkes’ arrest on charges of libel. Despite severe legal restrictions placed on refuting the King, Wilkes successfully challenged the prosecution by citing the protection of speech belonging to members of parliament. This direct attack on the King and government made Wilkes and the number “45” popular figures of liberty and free speech. This popularity spread in America, where Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania was named in John Wilkes’ honor alongside fellow British politician Isaac Barré in 1769.
John Wilkes (1727-1797) and Charles Churchill (1731-1764).
The North Briton: from no. I. to no. XLVI. [London?: s.n., 1763?].
Lehigh University Catalog Record:https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/265248
A version of this text has been digitized and is available through the Internet Archive.