Essex, Arthur Capel, 1st earl of, Viscount Malden, Baron Capel Of Hadham

Essex, Arthur Capel, 1st earl of, Viscount Malden, Baron Capel Of Hadham

▪ English statesman

born 1631/32
died July 13, 1683, London
 English statesman, a member of the “Triumvirate” that dominated policy at the time of the Popish Plot (1678).

      The son of Arthur Capel, 1st Baron Capel, who was executed by the Parliamentarians in 1649, he was, after the Restoration of Charles II, created Viscount Malden and earl of Essex (April 1661). Although his antagonism to court life, to Roman Catholicism, and to extension of the royal prerogative alienated Charles II, he was nevertheless appointed to a succession of offices. As lord lieutenant of Ireland (1672–77), Essex purged the country's financial administration, repelled attempts to exploit the Irish land market, and generally endeavoured to improve the condition of Roman Catholics. As a lord of the treasury (March–November 1679), he worked with the earls of Halifax and Sunderland, at first supporting Halifax' scheme to impose statutory limitations should the Roman Catholic duke of York (afterward James II) become king.

      His political attitude became more and more intolerant of the Roman Catholic flavour of the court, and, as member of the Privy Council, he joined Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st earl of Shaftesbury, in voting (November 1680) for the exclusion of James from the succession. A fervent Protestant, he may have taken part in the Rye House Plot (June 1683) to assassinate the allegedly pro-Catholic Charles II and his brother James, and he was certainly among the supporters of Charles's illegitimate Protestant son, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth. He was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he was found with his throat cut. The violence with which the wound had been inflicted made it uncertain whether or not his death was a suicide. If suicide, his motive may have been to prevent an attainder and preserve his titles and estates for his family. He had one surviving son, Algernon (1670–1710), 2nd Earl of Essex.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex — (1631 ndash; 13 July 1683), whose surname is sometimes spelled Capel, was an English statesman.Early lifeHe was the son of Arthur Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Hadham (who was executed in 1649) and of Elizabeth Morrison, daughter and heir of Sir… …   Wikipedia

  • Earl of Essex — is a title that has been held by several families and individuals, of which the best known and most closely associated with the title was Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1566 1601). The earldom was first created in the twelfth century for… …   Wikipedia

  • United Kingdom — a kingdom in NW Europe, consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: formerly comprising Great Britain and Ireland 1801 1922. 58,610,182; 94,242 sq. mi. (244,100 sq. km). Cap.: London. Abbr.: U.K. Official name, United Kingdom of Great… …   Universalium

  • Rye House Plot — (1683) In English history, an alleged Whig conspiracy to assassinate Charles II because of his pro Catholic policies. The plot drew its name from Rye House at Hoddeston, Hertfordshire, near the road where Charles was supposed to be killed as he… …   Universalium

  • Charles I — /chahrlz/; Fr. /shannrddl/ 1. Charlemagne. 2. ( the Bald ) A.D. 823 877, king of France 840 877; as Charles II, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 875 877. 3. 1500 58, king of Spain 1516 56; as Charles V, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire 1519 56. 4 …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”