JOHN WILKES

FETTER LANE

JOHN WILKES

JOHN WILKES

FETTER LANE

unknown

written by: JEREMY PAXMAN
animated by: JEREMY PAXMAN

with support from: CITY OF LONDON

"I like John Wilkes because he was a wonderful and odious man – which is a rare combination. He was a scabious figure but I like his ideas and principles. It’s important that we recognise his contributions.”

JEREMY PAXMAN

John Wilkes (1725 –1797) was a radical, journalist, and politician.

An advocator of free press, he forced the government to allow newspapers to publish full accounts of parliamentary debates. More here.