John Wilkes (1725–1797) was an Englishman who championed free expression and individualism during the 18th century. With a penchant for spending beyond his means, he was known during his life as a libertine, an audacious agitator who craved excitement, and a popular friend of people who championed “reform.” He was thrown out of Parliament several times but was returned by his loyal constituents.
Wilkes was arrested for insinuations against the monarch in his paper
Wilkes entered Parliament in 1757 and was a follower of the elder William Pitt. He created a journal, The North Briton, as a rejoinder to a pro–Lord Bute’s administration weekly paper that attacked Pitt. For the insinuations his journal promoted in regard to the monarchy, Wilkes was arrested along with others associated with The North Briton, but a judge released him, since Wilkes was a member of Parliament and his privilege could only be suspended if he were charged with treason, felony, or a breach of the peace. The court also invalidated the general warrant (later called writs of assistance in America) under which he had been arrested, striking a blow for privacy rights. Following this decision, the Crown brought another action against Wilkes.
