Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin

Sidney Godolphin, first Earl of Godolphin (c. 1645 – September 15, 1712), was a leading British politician of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Image File history File links Godolphin. ... Image File history File links Godolphin. ... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events Treaty of Aargau signed between Catholic and Protestants. ...

Family and early career

He came from an ancient family of Cornwall. At the Restoration he was introduced into the royal household by King Charles II of England, whose favourite he had become, and he also entered the House of Commons as member for Helston, in Cornwall. Although he very seldom addressed the House, and, when he did so, only in the briefest manner, he "gradually acquired a reputation as its chief if not its only financial authority." In March 1679 he was appointed a member of the Privy Council, and in the September following he was promoted, along with Viscount Hyde (afterwards Earl of Rochester) and the Earl of Sunderland, to the chief management of affairs. For other uses, see Cornwall (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Restoration. ... Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. ... Look up Favorite in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Type Lower House Speaker Michael Martin, (Non-affiliated) since October 23, 2000 Leader Harriet Harman, (Labour) since June 28, 2007 Shadow Leader Theresa May, (Conservative) since May 5, 2005 Members 659 Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist Party Sinn Féin... Helston was a parliamentary constituency centred on the small town of Helston in Cornwall. ... Her Majestys Most Honourable Privy Council is a body of advisors to the British Sovereign. ... Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester (March, 1641 - May 2, 1711), was an English statesman and writer. ... Robert Spencer, 2nd Earl of Sunderland (1640 - September 28, 1702) was an English statesman and nobleman. ...

Godolphin married Margaret Blagge, daughter of Thomas Blagge, the pious lady whose life was written by Evelyn in his book The Life of Mrs Godolphin, on 16 May 1675. She died in childbirth bearing his only son, Francis, in 1678, and Godolphin never remarried. John Evelyn. ... is the 136th day of the year (137th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1675 (MDCLXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Exclusion and revolution

Although he voted for the Exclusion Bill in 1680, he was continued in office after the dismissal of Sunderland, and in September 1684 he was created Baron Godolphin of Rialton, and succeeded Rochester as First Lord of the Treasury. After the accession of James II he was made chamberlain to the queen, Mary of Modena, and, along with Rochester and Sunderland, enjoyed the king’s special confidence. In 1687 he was named commissioner of the treasury. He was one of the council of five appointed by King James to represent him in London, when he went to join the army after the landing of William of Orange, in England, and, along with Halifax and Nottingham, he was afterwards appointed a commissioner to negotiate with the prince. On the accession of William, though he only obtained the third seat at the treasury board, he was in control of affairs. He retired in March 1690, but, was recalled in the following November and appointed first lord. During the reign of Charles II of England, the Exclusion Bill crisis ran from 1678 till 1681. ... The Lord High Treasurer bears a white staff as his symbol of office. ... James II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701)[2] was King of England, King of Scots,[1] and King of Ireland from 6 February 1685 to 11 December 1688. ... Mary of Modena (October 5, 1658 – May 7, 1718) was the queen consort of King James II of England. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... William III (14 November 1650 – 8 March 1702) was the Prince of Orange from his birth, Stadtholder of the main provinces of the Dutch Republic from 28 June 1672, King of England and King of Ireland from 13 February 1689, and King of Scots (under the name William II) from... George Savile, Marquess of Halifax. ... Daniel Finch, 7th Earl of Winchilsea, 2nd Earl of Nottingham (July 2, 1647 – January 1, 1730), son of Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham. ...

Career under William III

Margaret Blagge, wife of Sidney Godolphin, painted by Matthew Dixon

While holding this office he for several years continued, in conjunction with John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, a secret correspondence with James II, and is said to have disclosed to James intelligence regarding the intended expedition against Brest. Godolphin was not only a Tory by inheritance, but was thought to have a romantic admiration for the wife of James II. After Fenwick’s confession in 1696 regarding the attempted assassination of William III, Godolphin, who was compromised, tendered his resignation; but when the Tories came into power in 1700, he was again appointed lord treasurer and retained office for about a year. Though not technically a favourite with Queen Anne, he was, after her accession, appointed to his old office, on the strong recommendation of Marlborough. He also in 1704 received the honour of knighthood, and in December 1706 he was created Viscount Rialton and Earl of Godolphin. John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722) (O.S)[1] was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs throughout the late 17th and early 18th centuries. ... For other uses, see Brest. ... For other uses, see Tory (disambiguation). ... Anne (6 February 1665 – 1 August 1714) became Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702, succeeding William III of England and II of Scotland. ...

Though a Tory, he had an active share in the intrigues which gradually led to the predominance of the Whigs in alliance with Marlborough. The influence of the Marlboroughs with the queen was, however, gradually supplanted by that of Abigail Masham and Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford, and with the fortunes of the Marlboroughs those of Godolphin were indissolubly united. The services of both were so appreciated by the nation that they were able for a time to regard the loss of the queen’s favour with indifference, and even in 1708 to procure the expulsion of Harley from office; but after the Tory reaction which followed the impeachment of Henry Sacheverell, who abused Godolphin under the name of Volpone, the queen made use of the opportunity to get rid of Marlborough by abruptly dismissing Godolphin from office on 7 August 1710. The Whigs (with the Tories) are often described as one of two political parties in England and later the United Kingdom from the late 17th to the mid 19th centuries. ... Abigail Hill Masham Lady Abigail Masham, née Abigail Hill (d. ... Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Mortimer (5 December 1661 – 21 May 1724), was an English statesman of the Stuart and early Georgian periods. ... Henry Sacheverell (1674 - June 15, 1724) was an English churchman and politician. ... An illustration for an 1898 edition of Volpone by Aubrey Beardsley. ... is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // Events April 10 - The worlds first copyright legislation became effective, Britains Statute of Anne Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713) Births January 3 - Richard Gridley, American Revolutionary soldier (d. ...

Godolphin owed his rise to power and his continuance in it under four sovereigns to his financial wizardry; he received support from Marlborough mainly because Marlborough recognised that for the continuance of England's foreign wars his financial abilities were an indispensable necessity. He is said to have been cool, reserved and cautious, with more concern for his own welfare than for political considerations. Nevertheless, he took little advantage of his opportunities for personal gain, and in spite of his well-known fondness for horse racing, cards, and cockfighting, his style of living was unostentatious. When he died, his estate was more than £12,000.

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.