William Augustus Miles

William Augustus Miles (c. 1753–1817) was an English political writer. He was also a British agent in the years around the French Revolution.

He is not to be confused with William Augustus Miles (1798–1851), penitentiary reformer.

Early life

Born 1 July 1753 or 1754, he was son of Jefferson Miles, who was employed as proof-master general (died 1763), a supervisory artillery position. As a boy, he ran away from a school near Portsmouth, to support John Wilkes.

After travelling in America, Miles returned to England and was appointed in 1770 to the Ordnance Office. He lost the post shortly, by quarrelling with his superiors. Through David Garrick he obtained a civil appointment in the Royal Navy. He served under George Rodney in the West Indies during the American Revolutionary War, was in Newfoundland in 1779, and two years later was a French prisoner of war in St. Lucia. Soon after his release he left the service.

In August 1782 Miles was in Dublin, and was corresponding with Lord Temple just appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; despite the backing of Lord Shelburne, he failed to obtain political employment. In early 1783 he went on the continent of Europe, to Seraing, near Liège, in order to economise and educate his daughter. He became intimate with two successive prince-bishops of Liège.

Agent for Pitt

Miles made himself useful to William Pitt the younger, the Prime Minister. He was Pitt's first secret agent, from 1784. In the wartime conditions of 1794, Pitt broke off the relationship. Miles's position in the Low Countries placed him as a crossroads for intelligence, and also enabled contacts with French officials.