Junius (writer) facts for kids

A portrait of Sir Philip Francis, who some believe was Junius.

Junius was the secret pen name of a British writer. This person wrote many letters to a London newspaper called the Public Advertiser. These letters appeared between January 21, 1769, and January 21, 1772. The writer had used the name "Junius" before, in a letter from November 1768. All these letters, plus other personal notes, were collected and published in a book called Letters of Junius in 1772.

Why the Name "Junius"?

The writer might have chosen "Junius" because they had used other Roman names like Lucius and Brutus before. They might have wanted to complete the name of Lucius Junius Brutus, a famous Roman hero who helped overthrow a king. Another idea is that the name came from the Roman poet Juvenal, whose full name might have included Junius.

Some people think the author used many different secret names, even after the "Junius" letters stopped appearing. For example, they might have written as Philo-Junius. This character would help Junius when people misunderstood his messages. There's also a small chance they wrote as Veteran or Nemesis in the same newspaper.

What Junius Wanted to Achieve

The main "Letters of Junius" were written for educated people. They had clear goals:

• To teach people about their historical rights and freedoms as English citizens.
• To show how the government was taking away these rights.

Junius mostly targeted the government led by Augustus Henry Fitzroy, 3rd Duke of Grafton. Junius thought Grafton's government was very unfair. Grafton's government started in October 1768. Junius wanted William Pitt the Elder to return to power. Pitt was a respected leader who was not getting along with Grafton's group.

Junius also supported the Whig political group. This group often sided with the American colonists and with a politician named John Wilkes. Junius also showed a strong dislike for Scottish people and felt they had too much influence in politics and at the King's court. He believed the King should favor Englishmen more.

Junius kept his private letters, which were written in a disguised handwriting. He wrote to Pitt, George Grenville, and John Wilkes (all of whom were against the Duke of Grafton). He also wrote to Henry Sampson Woodfall, who printed the Public Advertiser.

Junius's letters are important for three reasons:

• Their political meaning.
• Their writing style.
• The mystery of who wrote them.

Some people thought his letters were just angry attacks. But if you look closely, Junius was a man of principles. He exposed unfair actions using the only way he could—by staying anonymous—in a country that was still learning about freedom of speech.

Junius started by criticizing the government for its bad behavior. When Sir William Draper tried to defend a popular general, John Manners, Marquess of Granby, Junius easily won the argument. This short fight helped Junius's writing style and cleverness become famous. He then realized he could really influence what people thought.

Junius then bravely pointed out the root of the problems: the governments of Grafton, Lord North, and the Duke of Bedford. Junius argued that Grafton made unfair appointments to please the Duke of Bedford's group. For example, Grafton appointed Col. Henry Lawes Luttrell as a Member of Parliament instead of the elected Wilkes. He also made Richard Rigby the Paymaster of the Forces. Junius also attacked Lord Chief Justice Mansfield. Junius believed Mansfield had made dangerous legal decisions about press freedom during the Wilkes affair.

Junius was very disappointed that his letter to King George III in December 1769 did not change the King's mind. He wanted the King to forgive Wilkes and stop trusting corrupt officials. Junius was not against the King, but he wanted to explain to the public the King's true role in the government and how it could help the country.

The letters had a big impact. They made Grafton so unpopular that his government ended in January 1770. Junius was likely disappointed when Lord North replaced Grafton. In a private letter in January 1773, Junius admitted he hadn't fully achieved his goals. Still, his letters were talked about for generations and spread across Europe. His ideas about fair elections, a free press, and individual rights are now common. Few people in history have influenced so many and sparked such an interest in liberty.

Junius's Writing Style

In Junius's time, people studied and copied old Latin literature, like the writings of Juvenal and the speeches of Cicero. Junius did what others did, but he did it much better, which explains his quick popularity. His writing style was his strength. He wasn't completely original, and his writing could be uneven. Some parts of his work were described as "a mere mixture of vinegar and water, at once vapid and sour." But at his best, Junius wrote with great elegance and power. He was influenced by writers like Bolingbroke, Swift, and especially Tacitus, who seemed to be his favorite author. Junius didn't just copy; he adapted ideas.

Here is an example from his Letter XLIX to the Duke of Grafton, written on June 22, 1771:

"The deep respect I have for the kind prince who rules this country with honor to himself and happiness for his people, and who gives you back your place under his flag, will save you from many criticisms. My attention to your faults is drawn instead to the hand that rewards them. And though I don't think a king's favor can remove huge amounts of shame, it does make the burden lighter, because it divides it. When I remember how much is owed to his sacred role, I cannot, properly, call you the lowest and most base person in the kingdom. I promise, my Lord, I don't think you are. You will have a dangerous rival in the kind of fame you've sought, as long as there is one person who trusts you and thinks you fit to have any part in his government.... With any other prince, your shameful abandonment of him in his time of trouble, which you alone caused, when he thought his throne was surrounded by good and capable men, would have outweighed your past services. But his majesty is fair and understands how to balance things; he remembers with thanks how quickly you changed your morals to fit his needs, how happily you gave up private friendships, and broke your promises to the public. The sacrifice of Lord Chatham was not lost on him. Even your cowardice and betrayal might not have hurt his opinion of you. The situation was painful, but the idea might have pleased him."

Who Read Junius's Letters?

Junius and his readers seemed to understand each other well. This helped him become popular quickly. Before 1772, at least twelve unofficial copies of his letters were printed by people trying to make money. In 1772, he edited a collection called Junius: Stat nominis umbra, which means "Junius: The shadow of a name stands." It had a special message to the English people and an introduction. Other independent editions quickly followed.

In 1801, one edition was published with notes by Robert Heron. In 1806, another appeared with notes by John Almon. The first truly important new edition was released by the Woodfall family in 1812. It included Junius's letters to Henry Sampson Woodfall, a selection of other letters thought to be by Junius, copies of his handwriting, and notes by John Mason Good. People became more curious about who the author was, rather than just the political or literary side of the writings. Junius himself knew early on that keeping his identity secret made him more important. He wrote to Wilkes in September 1771, "The mystery of Junius increases his importance."

Woodfall was sure that:

when kings and ministers are forgotten, when the power and aim of personal attacks are no longer understood, and when actions are only felt in their furthest results; this book will, I believe, be found to contain principles worthy to be passed down to future generations.

Who Was Junius?

The true identity of Junius is still a big mystery and a topic of debate. It might never be fully solved unless new documents are found. Some experts believe Philip Francis was Junius. William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne claimed to know who Junius was just two weeks before he died in 1805, but he never told anyone.

Junius's Name Used Later

The name "Junius" has been used by others over time:

• Samuel Saenger, a political editor for a German publishing house from 1908 to 1934, signed many of his articles as 'Junius'. These articles often criticized German politics from a left-liberal viewpoint. Many were titled 'Aus Junius' Tagebuch' – 'From Junius' Diary'.
• Rosa Luxemburg published the Junius Pamphlet in Switzerland in April 1916. It was secretly shared in Germany. This text, also known as The crisis in German Social Democracy, was started while she was in prison in February 1915. It became the main policy statement for the Spartacus League, which later became part of the Communist Party of Germany in January 1919.
• The Italian economist Luigi Einaudi used 'Junius' as a pen name for two series of letters. These letters, published in 1920 and 1944 (while he was a refugee in Switzerland), shared his liberal ideas.
• Irish writer James Joyce made fun of Junius's style in his 1922 novel Ulysses. This part of the book, called "Oxen of the Sun," happens in a maternity hospital. It's one of 32 parodies of different English writing styles in the novel.
• Robert Goddard's 2005 suspense novel Sight Unseen is set in modern times, but the identity of Junius is a major part of the story.
• The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail has had a quote from Junius on its editorial or front page for many years: "The subject who is truly loyal to the Chief Magistrate will neither advise nor submit to arbitrary measures. Junius".
• A band from Boston, Massachusetts, has been performing and recording under the name Junius since about 2003.
• In the third season of the HBO series True Detective, a character named Junius is important to the mystery. This character was earlier called "Mr. June."

See also

• Letters of Junius
• Identity of Junius