Levelers

‘Levelers: In English history, a group of ultra-republicans during the Civil War, who wanted to give all men the right to vote, and to end class distinctions. John Lilburne (1614?-57) was one of the leaders of the sect, which was active from 1647 to 1649, when it was suppressed by Cromwell’s troops.

In Irish history, an illegal association of 18th-century agrarian agitators, also called Whiteboys.”

Excerpted from: Murphy, Bruce, ed. Benet’s Reader’s Encyclopedia, Fourth Edition. New York: Harper Collins, 1996.