John Trenchard

1662–1723

Nationality: English

Historical Period: The 18th Century

John Trenchard (1662-1723) was a radical Whig and Commonwealthman who, along with his collaborator Thomas Gordon (1692-1750), were important voices defending constitutionalism and individual liberty in the 1720s in England. Trenchard came from a prominent family, went to Trinity College, Dublin, and briefly served in the House of Commons. He worked as a journalist in the 1690s writing works criticising the idea of standing armies and the political power of the established church. Trenchard co-wrote The Independent Whig (1720-21) and Cato’s Letters (1720-23) with Gordon. He was a defender of the idea of liberty against political corruption, imperialism and militarism in the early 18th century. Their writings, especially Cato’s Letters, were also much read in the American colonies.

• Author: BOLL 61: John Trenchard, “On the Nature of Political Parties” (1721)
• Author: Cato’s Letters, 4 vols. in 2 (LF ed.)
• Author: Cato’s Letters, or Essays on Liberty, Civil and Religious, and Other Important Subjects
• Author: A Collection of Tracts, 2 vols. (1751)
• Author: The Independent Whig, 4 vols. (1720, 1743)