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Thomas Wharton

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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THOMAS WHARTON (1648-1715), who in 1706 was created earl and in 1714 marquess of Wharton. The 1st marquess was one of the chief Whig politicians after the Revolution. He is famous in literary history as the author of the famous political ballad, Lilliburlero, which "sang James II. out of three kingdoms." Wharton was lord-lieutenant of Ireland in Anne's reign, and incurred the wrath of Swift, who attacked him as Verres in the Examiner (No. 14), and drew a separate "character" of him, which is one of Swift's masterpieces. He was a man of great wit and versatile cleverness, and cynically ostentatious in his immorality, having the reputation of being the greatest rake and the truest Whig of his time. Addison dedicated to him the fifth volume of the Spectator, giving him a very different "character" from Swift's. His first wife, ANNA WHARTON (1632-1685), was an authoress, whose poems, including an Elegy on Lord Rochester, ' were celebrated by Walter and Dryden.