Tooke

Tooke, JOHN HORNE (1736-1812), was born in Westminster, and educated at Eton and Cambridge. He became successively law-student, usher, and clergyman. Having made the acquaintance of Wilkes, he began to take an active part in politics, and in 1773 resigned the living of New Brentford. He was imprisoned for getting up subscription for the Americans who fell at Lexington, and in 1794 was tried for high treason but acquitted. In 1801 he obtained a seat in Parliament. In 1782 he adopted the name of Tooke, having been hitherto known as "Parson Horne." His Diversions of Purley, amongst its other contents, has the best philological work of the 18th century.