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Edmund Burke 1729-1797

Born in Dublin. He was one of the foremost political thinkers of the age. His early works include Vindication of Natural Society and A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful. He became quite active in politics and was considered the most eloquent orator in Westminster. He supported many causes including the abolition of slavery, Catholic emancipation, reform in India and conciliation with America.

            His Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790) went into many editions and was read throughout Europe. Thomas Paine’s The Rights of Man was a reply to this work. There is a statue of Burke by John Henry Foley outside Trinity College Dublin.

            On Burke’s death, Charles James Fox proposed in the House of Commons that the Nation should pay the cost of his interment in Westminster Abbey and this was unanimously agreed. However, Burke stated in his will that no unnecessary expense be gone to over his funeral and he strictly forbade any posthumous honours beyond a simple inscription on his tombstone. He was buried in Beaconsfield.

Further information and directions to the grave are to be found in "The End - An Illustrated Guide to the Graves of Irish Writers".  Click here to order a copy of this book