James Burgh (1714–1775) was a British Whig politician whose book Political Disquisitions set out an early case for free speech and universal suffrage: in it, he writes, "All lawful authority, legislative, and executive, originates from the people."
In the words of Lyndall Gordon, his widow acted as "fairy godmother" [2] to early feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, then a young and unpublished schoolmistress, helping her to set up her own boarding school.
In "The Dignity of Human Nature," he explored the principles of moral and intellectual improvement, highlighting the importance of education and personal virtue in society's progress.
Burgh became involved in the early 1760s with a group called the Honest Whigs, a club that met on alternate Thursday evenings in a coffeehouse, then an important social and political meeting place.
Other members of the group included Richard Price, Joseph Priestley, Benjamin Franklin, James Boswell and others.
[4] In "Political Disquisitions," James Burgh articulated a vision for democratic governance, emphasizing the vital role of free speech and press in holding public officials accountable.
James Burgh's political theories, particularly his emphasis on free speech and its critical role in a functioning democracy, were influential in shaping the foundational concepts of free speech in the emerging United States, drawing connections with contemporary American figures who were advocating for similar freedoms.
Public libel was not a crime to Burgh, but rather "the unavoidable inconvenience attendant upon a high station, which he who dislikes must avoid, and keep himself private."