# A Champion of Civil Liberties: John Lilburne

**URL:** <https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/portraits-of-liberty/a-champion-of-civil-liberties-john-lilburne>

**By** Paul Meany

**Published:** April 22, 2021

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Despite spending nearly half of his adult life in prison, the 17th-century Englishman John Lilburne spent his life fighting for the right of free speech and freedom of religion.

## Summary:

Living in the 17th-century, John Lilburne, or as he was more commonly known Freeborn John, was imprisoned at a young age for distributing a banned book. From this point on through the English Civil Wars and the turbulent days of the English republic, Lilburne was a fierce advocate of civil liberties, what he called the rights of freeborn men. He inspired the Leveller movement and colonial governments in America that followed his advice on the importance of free speech and the right to silence.

## Music Attributions:

On the Cool Side by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4164-on-the-cool-side](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4164-on-the-cool-side)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
With the Sea by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4638-with-the-sea](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4638-with-the-sea)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
Temple of the Manes by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4468-temple-of-the-manes](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4468-temple-of-the-manes)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
The Descent by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4490-the-descent](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4490-the-descent)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
Fantastic Dim Bar by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3739-fantastic-dim-bar](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3739-fantastic-dim-bar)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
Plaint by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4224-plaint](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4224-plaint)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)  
  
Disquiet by Kevin MacLeod  
Link: [https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3659-disquiet](https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3659-disquiet)  
License: [https://filmmusic.io/standard-license](https://filmmusic.io/standard-license)