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The Secret of St. Andrews podcast is for golf enthusiasts, history buffs and patriots.
Episode 18: The Propaganda Wars
Once King George ascended to the throne in 1760, Scotsmen appeared to gain power within the British government, but an anti-Scottish propaganda war was soon to follow. Ben Franklin and his Scottish allies were fighting a battle for British hearts and minds against John Wilkes, a radical English journalist and politician with an avid following in London.
Wilkes was a fervent supporter of Whiggism, an ideology that emphasized the protection of English constitutional rights, Protestant succession, and limited monarchy. He was particularly opposed to the increasing influence of Scots in English political affairs, which he perceived as a threat to English liberties and traditions.
Wilkes' newspaper, The North Briton, often used anti-Scottish rhetoric and insinuated that Scottish politicians were clandestine supporters of the Jacobites. "Junto" refers to a group of people joined for a common purpose, and in the mid to late 18th century, Wilkes helped spread rumors of a Scottish Junto operating within the British government.
They were said to have undue influence on King George III and would pose an existential threat to the English way of life. In 1762, John Stuart, the Earl of Bute, a Scotsman from Edinburgh, became Great Britain's first Scottish Prime Minister. Stuart had been King George's tutor, and Wilkes feared that Stuart and his appointees would press Scottish interests at England's expense.
Ben Franklin and his new Scottish allies discussed the rising "Scotophobia" in London and the American colonies at length. Wilkes posed a problem for Franklin too. He knew Wilkes well and knew his radical views were gaining popularity with American colonists. Though Franklin and Wilkes both advocated for liberty, Franklin preferred a diplomatic approach over Wilkes' efforts to incite civil unrest.
He also loathed Wilkes as a person, finding him immoral, repugnant, and self-serving. Yet John Wilkes became a symbol of liberty for the American colonies. His battles against government overreach, especially his fight for freedom of the press and against general warrants, resonated deeply with colonists who felt oppressed by British rule.
The slogan "Wilkes and Liberty" echoed across the Atlantic, inspiring many to question British authority and advocate for their rights. However, Wilkes' radical approach and the public unrest it incited posed challenges for Franklin, who was in London trying to diplomatically address colonial grievances.
Franklin needed to maintain a delicate balance, supporting the colonies’ push for rights while presenting their case in a way that would be acceptable to British leaders. Wilkes' reputation for stirring controversy made it harder for Franklin to engage in constructive dialogue with the more conservative elements of the British government.
Wilkes fueled revolutionary fervor in America while Franklin navigated the tricky waters of diplomacy, striving to achieve change through negotiation rather than confrontation. Wilkes posed a threat to both the Scots and Franklin and was a worthy adversary. Franklin agreed to help his allies combat Wilkes' propaganda machine, but to do so, they'd have to form their own Scottish Junto.
Up next, the real Scottish Junto of John Rattray, David Weems, and Hugh Mercer.