Edmund Burke

The Right Honourable Edmund Burke (January 12, 1729 – July 9, 1797) was born in Dublin, January 12, educated at a Quaker boarding school and at Trinity College, Dublin. Burke was author, orator and political philosopher, who served for many years in the British House of Commons as a member of the Whig party.

He is chiefly remembered for his support of the American colonies in the struggle against King George III that led to the American Revolution, as well as for his strong opposition to the French Revolution. The latter made Burke one of the leading figures within the conservative faction of the Whig party (which he dubbed the "Old Whigs"), in opposition to the pro-revolutionary "New Whigs," led by Charles James Fox. Burke also published philosophical work on aesthetics and founded the Annual Register, a political review. In his day he was considered one of the finest parliamentary orators in Britain.

Burke made several famous speeches while serving in the British House of Commons.

On American Taxation (1774): "Whether you were right or wrong in establishing the Colonies on the principles of commercial monopoly, rather than on that of revenue, is at this day a problem of mere speculation. You cannot have both by the same authority. To join together the restraints of an universal internal and external monopoly, with an universal internal and external taxation, is an unnatural union; perfect uncompensated slavery."

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• January 12, 1709
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• January 12, 1729
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• January 12, 1765
  The Kinsale by-election caused by the death of John Folliott on this date is contested by Agmondisham Vesey and Richard Meade. Vesey wins by 64 votes to 48, but pays a price for being elected: William Dennis, vintner, receives £80 for Mr Vesey's entertain
• January 12, 1885
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• January 12, 1887
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• January 12, 1887
  Molly Allgood, actress (stage name Máire O'Neill) and fiancée of Synge, is born in Dublin governor General of Canada, 1935/1940) died.
• January 12, 1930
  Birth of Jennifer Johnston, author of How Many Miles to Babylon and The Railway Station Man
• January 12, 1940
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• January 12, 1947
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