The History of John Bull

First published in 1712, John Arbuthnot’s The History of John Bull is a sharp political satire that introduced the character John Bull, who would go on to become a national personification of England. Written during the War of the Spanish Succession, the work allegorizes the conflict through the story of an honest, good-natured English tradesman (John Bull) drawn into endless lawsuits, symbolizing Britain’s costly and prolonged wars. Witty, clever, and insightful, Arbuthnot’s pamphlet critiques political corruption and foreign entanglements, leaving a lasting cultural legacy. It remains a significant and entertaining piece of early 18th-century political literature.