Historedia
Person

Edmund Burke

Events
4
Episodes
13
Years
1782–1795

Every event in Historedia whose sources name Edmund Burke, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Rockingham Becomes Prime Minister

    1782

    Role: Private secretary and advisor

    1. 1782 · Great BritainRockingham Appointed Prime Minister

      Rockingham became Prime Minister for a second time in 1782, with Fox and Shelburne as Secretaries of State, amid sweeping ministerial changes.

    2. 1782 · Great BritainPush for American Independence

      On taking office, Rockingham pushed for acknowledgement of American independence, initiating the end of British involvement in the American War of Independence.

  2. Publication of Rights of Man by Thomas Paine

    1791

    Role: author of the attacked Reflections on the Revolution in France

    1. 1791 onward · England, site of the controversy and trialImpact and conviction for seditious libel

      The book damaged Burke's case and caused a furore; Paine was convicted of seditious libel in absentia while in France.

    2. 21 February 1791 · London publishing house of Joseph JohnsonWithdrawn first printing

      Joseph Johnson printed Rights of Man for publication on 21 February 1791, but the edition was withdrawn for fear of prosecution.

    3. March 1791 · London, place of first publicationPublication of the first part

      Rights of Man, the first part of Paine's reply to Burke, was published in London in March 1791, containing 31 articles.

    4. March 1791 · London publication contextA reply to Burke's Reflections

      The book defended the French Revolution against Burke's 1790 attack, countering his case for aristocratic inheritance of power.

    5. March 1791 · London publication contextArguments on rights and revolution

      Paine argued that revolution is permissible when natural rights are unprotected, treating the Bastille as the symbol of overthrown despotism.

    6. March 1791 · London publication contextSubdued rhetoric on the British monarchy

      Paine did not directly condone uprising against the British monarchy, using more subdued rhetoric than in his other controversial works.

  3. Thomas Paine's Flight to France

    1792

    Role: Critique of Paine's Work

    1. 1792 · EnglandTrial in Absentia

      Paine was convicted in absentia in England in 1792 for seditious libel, correcting the legacy claim of treason.

    2. September 1792 · FranceFlight to France

      Paine fled England in September 1792 to avoid arrest for seditious libel, subsequently being elected to the French National Convention.

  4. Acquittal of Warren Hastings

    1794–1795

    Role: Impeachment prosecutor who opposed acquittal

    1. 9 April 1794 · House of Lords trial proceedingsCornwallis Testimony for the Defence

      Lord Cornwallis, recently returned from India, testified for the defence on 9 April 1794, giving Hastings' case a major lift.

    2. 1795 (after the verdict; exact date unknown) · British government and East India CompanyFinancial Compensation After Acquittal

      After the trial Hastings sought government assistance and received from the East India Company a £50,000 loan and a £4,000 annual pension.

    3. 23 or 24 April 1795 (sources conflict) · House of Lords, WestminsterAcquittal by the House of Lords

      The House of Lords acquitted Warren Hastings of all charges on 23 April 1795, with Lord Chancellor Loughborough overseeing the verdict.

Sources

  1. Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-23
  2. Rights of Man Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-07
  3. Thomas Paine Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27
  4. Impeachment of Warren Hastings Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-17