John Wilkes

Wilkes was one of the more flamboyant characters of the age. A critic of Parliament, he was four times refused a seat. In addition to his political and legal work, he was famed for being a libertine, a member of the infamous Hellfire club, and “the ugliest man in England.” Despite this last attribute, he was known for his romantic liaisons. Possibly his most famous remark on being told that it was uncertain if he would die on the gallows or of the pox, he retorted “That depends, sir, on whether I embrace your principles or your mistress.”