Jan

5 Random Things About Edmund Burke

By Tamahome Jenkins · January 12, 2010

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EiH would like to wish a happy birthday to Edmund Burke, who was born on this day in 1729. Burke’s life was defined by conflict, being an Irishman in the British House of Commons, an MP who supported the American colonies, and a supporter of reform who opposed the French Revolution. As such, Edmund Burke’s theories were considered somewhat controversial in his day, although they have largely withstood the test of time. In honor of his birth here are 5 random things about Edmund Burke.

Edmund Burke spent much of his life as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons.
Edmund Burke actually supported the American colonies leading up to the American Revolution. Burke desired for King George III to make peace with the colonies and to stop attempting to tax them. In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, Burke said,
I do not know how to wish success to those whose Victory is to separate from us a large and noble part of our Empire. Still less do I wish success to injustice, oppression and absurdity.
One would think that based on his support for the American Revolution, that Burke would support the French Revolution, but he actually did not. Burke felt that the French Revolution was too abstract and would result in disaster, and he correctly predicted the resulting Reign of Terror.
Edmund Burke is considered the founder of modern conservativism, with his views on private property and the rights of individuals. In fact, his pamphlet, Reflections on the Revolution in France, is considered the manifesto of modern conservative thought.
Edmund Burke was a preeminent political theorist, and penned several pamphlets during his lifetime. As a result, he is often quoted, with the most popular quote attributed to him being, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.” However, this quote did not show up until 1968, and was incorrectly attributed to Burke through one of his letters. As a result, Edmund Burke is one of the most misquoted men in history.

Bonus: Adam Smith, considered the father of capitalism, once said of Burke, “[he was] the only man I ever knew who thinks on economic subjects exactly as I do, without any previous communications having passed between us.” In honor of Edmund Burke’s 281st birthday, you can find a collection of his quotes on the EiH Twitter page.