Wild, Jonathan (1682?-1725), was an English thief who built up a large criminal organization in London. He planned robberies, received and disposed of stolen goods, and set himself up as an expert in locating “lost” property. He got rid of rivals by informing on them or by having his own agents, when on trial, give false evidence against them.
Wild claimed to be an honest businessman. He was finally arrested and hanged at Tyburn. His exploits inspired novels by Daniel Defoe and Henry Fielding. Wild was born in Wolverhampton, England.
