|
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
|
Junius
|
|
The pen name of the unknown author of a series of letters savagely attacking the ministers of *George III (and even the king himself in Letter XXXV). The letters appeared between 1769 and 1772 in the Public Advertiser; the publisher, Henry Woodfall, was prosecuted for seditious libel on account of the letter against the king, but he was acquitted. It was a political necessity for the author to keep his identity secret, which he did so successfully that some 50 candidates have been put forward by historians over the years. The most likely is now thought to be Philip Francis (1740–1818), a waspish character who went to India in 1773 and later took a prominent part in the attempt to impeach Warren Hastings.
|
|
|
|