John Wilkes
- Events
- 2
- Episodes
- 6
- Years
- 1768–1769
Every event in Historedia whose sources name John Wilkes, 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
Massacre of St George's Fields
1768Role: Radical Member of Parliament whose imprisonment provoked the protest
- Hunting of Fugitives and Further Violence
Sources record a scuffle with wounded prisoners, a barn shooting, and the murder of Allen, without tying them to the massacre itself.
- Imprisonment of John Wilkes
Wilkes was jailed in the King's Bench Prison on 10 May 1768 for an article severely criticising King George III.
- Supporters Gather at St George's Fields
On news of Wilkes's conviction and imprisonment, crowds assembled on St George's Fields chanting "Wilkes and Liberty."
- Troops Fire on Demonstrators
After the Riot Act was read, government soldiers fired on the unarmed crowd, killing six or seven and wounding fifteen.
- Hunting of Fugitives and Further Violence
House of Commons Exclusion of John Wilkes
1769Role: Radical politician excluded from the House of Commons
- Wilkes defies exclusion as London Alderman
In defiance of his exclusion, Wilkes became an Alderman of London in 1769, supported by the Society for the Supporters of the Bill of Rights.
- House of Commons excludes John Wilkes
Parliament expelled Wilkes in February 1769, ruling he had been an outlaw when returned for Middlesex. The passages do not confirm the legacy date of 17 February 1769 or any vote count.
- Wilkes defies exclusion as London Alderman
Sources
- Massacre of St George's Fields Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-22
- John Wilkes Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-27