John Wilkes

John Wilkes (1725–1797) was a British politician and journalist known for defending free speech and opposing government censorship. An outspoken advocate for civil liberties, he challenged the authority of King George III and Parliament. Wilkes faced imprisonment and exile because of his political activism, becoming a symbol of resistance for those fighting for individual rights and democratic principles in 18th-century Britain. His work contributed to the early development of modern notions of free speech and parliamentary reform.