tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post396138808576923073..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Correcting a James Otis MisattributionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-22552001027759202682012-08-09T23:08:52.343-05:002012-08-09T23:08:52.343-05:00The argument for “virtual representation” is mainl...The argument for “virtual representation” is mainly attributed to George Grenville, prime minister from 1763 to 1765. But it was taken up by other politicians, and Grenville himself allied with Pitt and the Whigs for the last five years of his life. That’s why I was vague about who exactly was making the argument.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-16671848559918479722012-08-06T00:48:46.132-05:002012-08-06T00:48:46.132-05:00James Otis, Jr., is often credited with coining th...James Otis, Jr., is often credited with coining the phrase “taxation without representation,” but, as I <a href="http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2009/04/james-otis-jr-on-taxation-without.html" rel="nofollow">discussed back here</a>, it doesn’t look like he did. He raised the issue in his writings, but didn’t describe it in such a memorably pithy and rhyming way. That phrase was current in the Revolutionary era, but exactly who came up with it is still a mystery to me. <br /><br />As for Mercy Warren, née Otis, there was a <a href="http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2008/09/warren-in-worcester-25-sept-2008.html" rel="nofollow">recent biography of her</a>.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-10081590897267279242012-08-05T21:13:28.886-05:002012-08-05T21:13:28.886-05:00Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Otis t...Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Otis the first to utter something like "taxation without representation is tyranny" leading to the well-remembered phrase "no taxation without representation"?<br /><br />On a related note, I've intrigued by Otis's sister, Mercy, more than the man himself. If you can recommend some good reading that has more detail on her, please do.MaryJeanAdamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15428581933097911371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-32295688145894833692012-08-02T07:51:17.232-05:002012-08-02T07:51:17.232-05:00In addition to the argument of connections (attrib...In addition to the argument of connections (attributed here to "some royal officials") there was of course the argument for virtual representation usually associated with Edmund Burke: that MPs ought to represent the common good rather than the specific interests of the constituents who elected them.Mr Punchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13516357354712554138noreply@blogger.com