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[[Image:Burke-Edmund.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]

[[Image:Burke-Edmund.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]

'''Edmund Burke''' (born January 12, 1729 in [[Dublin]], died July 9, 1797) was an [[Anglo-Irish]] statesman, an orator, and a political theorist who is still widely read.   

'''Edmund Burke''' (born January 12, 1729 in [[Dublin]], died July 9, 1797) was an [[Anglo-Irish]] statesman, an orator, and a leading conservative political theorist who is still widely read and continue to shape conservative attitudes.   

Burke rallied Britain against the radicalism of the [[French Revolution]]. In the process he became one of the first to develop a coherent conservative political philosophy; his ideas continue to influence conservatives.  Burke argued that a nation's institutions, customs and values were the long-term product of its experiences over the centuries, as small adjustments were made to fit changing needs and the cumulative effect was the current society. Writing before the [[Industrial Revolution]] had shown much impact, he thought change was always incremental and slow. Indeed he argued that current observers were unlikely to fully appreciate the hidden gems of wisdom of the "ancient constitution"; efforts to impose radical changes based on visions rather than experience, such as the [[French Revolution]], were therefore doomed to failure.  Keenly concerned with the fairness of the [[British Empire]] Burke opposed royal efforts to suppress the [[American Revolution]]; he called for more liberties for the people of [[India]] and his native [[Ireland]].

Burke rallied Britain against the radicalism of the [[French Revolution]]. In the process he became one of the first to develop a coherent conservative political philosophy; his ideas continue to influence conservatives.  Burke argued that a nation's institutions, customs and values were the long-term product of its experiences over the centuries, as small adjustments were made to fit changing needs and the cumulative effect was the current society. Writing before the [[Industrial Revolution]] had shown much impact, he thought change was always incremental and slow. Indeed he argued that current observers were unlikely to fully appreciate the hidden gems of wisdom of the "ancient constitution"; efforts to impose radical changes based on visions rather than experience, such as the [[French Revolution]], were therefore doomed to failure.  Keenly concerned with the fairness of the [[British Empire]] Burke opposed royal efforts to suppress the [[American Revolution]]; he called for more liberties for the people of [[India]] and his native [[Ireland]].