1614-1657. English republican agitator. He
was imprisoned 1638-40 for circulating
Puritan pamphlets, fought in the
Parliamentary army in the Civil War, and by
his advocacy of a democratic republic won the
leadership of the Levellers. In 1640, Oliver
Cromwell made a speech in favour of Lilburne
to get him released, and in 1641, Lilburne
received an indemnity of 3,000. He rose to
the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army,
but resigned 1645 because of the number of
Presbyterians. In 1647 he was put in the
Tower of London for accusations against
Cromwell. He was banished 1652 and arrested
again on his return in 1653. He was
acquitted, but still imprisoned until 1655
for `the peace of the nation'.