The Nonsense Club was a scandalous club of 18th-century

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

satirists This is an incomplete list of writers, cartoonists and others known for involvement in satire – humorous social criticism. They are grouped by era and listed by year of birth. Included is a list of modern satires. Early satirical authors *Aeso ...

centred on

Westminster School Westminster School is a Public school (United Kingdom), public school in Westminster, London, England, in the precincts of Westminster Abbey. It descends from a charity school founded by Westminster Benedictines before the Norman Conquest, as do ...

. Its members included the satirists and poets Charles Churchill and

Robert Lloyd Robert Lloyd may refer to: * Robert Lloyd (of Rhiwgoch) (), member of the English Parliament for Merioneth 1601 * Robert Lloyd (courtier) (fl. 1600–1625), courtier and member of parliament for Ludlow, and for Minehead * Robert Lloyd (1657–1709) ...

, the parodist

Bonnell Thornton Bonnell Thornton (1725–1768) was an English poet, essayist, and critic. He was educated at Westminster School, and at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1747. In 1752 Thornton founded the ''Drury Lane Journal'', a satirical periodi ...

, the nature poet

William Cowper William Cowper ( ; – 25 April 1800) was an English poet and Anglican hymnwriter. One of the most popular poets of his time, Cowper changed the direction of 18th-century nature poetry by writing of everyday life and scenes of the Engli ...

, and the dramatist George Colman. Some of the group's meetings may also have been attended by

William Hogarth William Hogarth (; 10 November 1697 – 26 October 1764) was an English painter, engraving, engraver, pictorial social satire, satirist, editorial cartoonist and occasional writer on art. His work ranges from Realism (visual arts), realistic p ...

. The club engaged in a host of colourfully virulent literary and theatrical battles, produced a distinctive brand of satire, and combined its impact with that of Wilkes to foment some of the most important political debates of its time.

Further reading