Who was Edmund Burke?
Political Philosopher and Parliamentarian.
Date and Place of Birth:
12th January 1729, Dublin, Ireland.
Family Background:
Son of a wealthy Protestant Lawyer and a Catholic
Mother.
Education:
Abraham Shackleton’s Quaker school in Kildare.
Trinity College, Dublin. Middle Temple, London.
Chronology/Biography of Edmund Burke:
1735: Goes to live
with relatives of his mother in County Cork.
1744: Attends Trinity
College Dublin.
1750: Goes to London
to study Law at the Middle Temple but soon abandons law for a literary
career.
1756: His first
major work is published anonymously. "A vindication of Natural
Society" which is a satire on enlightenment politcs and religion.
1757: Burke first
found fame as the author of a work on Aesthetics. "A Philosophical
Enquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful".
1758: Is appointed
Editor of the Annual Register. Birth of his first son Richard.
1761: Returns to
Ireland as he is appointed Secretary to William Gerard Hamilton
who was the chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant. Starts a work
on popery in Ireland but never completes it.
1764: Returns to
London after an argument with his employer. Beomes a member of the
Literary Club with other distinguished Charter Members such as Joshua
Reynolds, Oliver Goldsmith and Dr
Johnson.
1765: Appointed
the private Secreatey to the Marquis of Rockingham who becomes Whig
Prime Minister. Burke is elected to Parliament by the Borough of
Wendover.
1766: Rockingham
is dismissed by George 111 as Prime Minister despite repealing the
Stamp Act which has so upset the American Colonies.
1768: Burke buys
land in Buckinghamshire.
1770: Published
what is thought to be one opf his best works, "Thoughts on
the Cause of the Present Discontents."
1771: Becomes parliamentary
agent for New York.
1773: Takes a tour
round France.
1774: Re-elected
to Parliament this time as a meber for the CIty of Bristol and makes
his speech on the indepenence of parliamentary representatives.
He also speaks about American taxation and criticises Britain's
stance on the taxation of its colonies.
1780: Decides not
to stand for re-election in Bristol due to fierce opposition but
is elected for the borough of Maldon.
1782: Rockingham
again becomes Prime Minister in an attempt to end the American War
of Independence. Burke is appointed Paymaster of the armed forces.
1783: The Rockingham
group of Whigs then form a coalition government under Charles
James Fox in association with Lord North. Burke attacks the
East India Company's government of India. The coalition collapses
and is replaced by a Tory administration under William
Pitt the Younger.
1786: Burke attacks Warren Hastings
the Governor of Bengal for the East Inida Company.
1788: The trial
of Hastings begins with Burke prosecuting.
1790: Burke writes
about the French revolution.
1791: Falls out
with the Rockingham Whigs over his position on the French Revolution.
1793: War begins
between Britain and France. Burke says that the war should be fought
more strongly.
1794: The prosecution
of Warren Hastings finishes. Burke steps down from Parliament. Death
of his son.
1795: Hastings is
acquitted.
1796: Protests against
Britains' willingness to peace peace with revolutionary France.
Written Works:
- 1756:”A Vindication
of Natural Society, A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of
Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful”.
- 1757:"A Philosophical Enquiry
into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful",
an essay in aesthetics.
- 1769: “Observations
on a Late State of the Nation”.
- 1770:
“Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents”.
- 1774:
“Speech on American Taxation”.
- 1775: “Speech
on Resolutions for Conciliation with the Colonies”. “Letter to
the Sheriffs of Bristol”.
- 1780:
“Speech on a plan for the better Security of the Independence
of Parliament and Economic Reform”.
- 1784:
“Speech on Mr. Fox's India Bill”.
- 1785:
“Speech on Nabob of Arcot's Debts”.
- 1786:
“Articles of Change against Warren Hastings.”
- 1790: “Reflections
on the Revolution in France”.
- 1791:
“Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs”. “Letter to a Member of
the National Assembly
(of France)”.
- 1792: “Collected
Works”.
- 1796:
“Letter on a Regicide Peace”. "Letter to a Noble Lord"
- 1797: “Thoughts
on the French Affairs”.
Marriage:
1757 to Jane Nugent who was the daughter of an
Irish Catholic doctor.
Places of Interest:
AVON:
Took the waters at Bath.
Date and Place of Death:
9th July 1797, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire,
England.
Age at Death:
68.
Site of Grave:
St. Mary and All Saints Church, Beaconsfield,
Buckinghamshire, England.
