Thomas Wharton

Thomas Wharton (1648-1715) was an English politician, and the writer of a popular ballad. He was married to poet Anne Wharton.

Life
Wharton, statesman and writer of "Lillibullero," son of the 4th Baron Wharton, was one of the most profligate men of his age. He was a supporter of the Exclusion Bill, and consequently obnoxious to James II. His only contribution to literature was the doggerel ballad, "Lillibullero" (1688), which had so powerful a political effect that its author claimed to have sung a King out of three kingdoms. He was generally disliked and distrusted, but held for a short time, from 1708, the Lord Lieutenancy of Ireland, when he had Addison as his chief secretary.