JOHN WILKES
FETTER LANE
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.