George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Buckingham
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 January 1628 |
| Died | 16 April 1687 (aged 59) |
| Spouse | Mary Fairfax |
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George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (born 30 January 1628 – died 16 April 1687) was an important English politician and writer. He had a lot of power during the time of King Charles II.
During the English Civil War, he supported the King. In 1651, he joined King Charles II in France, where the King was living in exile. George Villiers returned to England in 1657. He later helped bring the King back to power in 1660.
Buckingham became one of King Charles's most trusted advisors. He was a key member of a group of ministers called the Cabal ministry in 1668. In 1674, he lost his position and became part of the political opposition. He regained the King's favor in 1684 but did not play a big role in public life after James II became king a year later. George Villiers was always interested in science and writing. He wrote several plays and funny poems.
Contents
Life of George Villiers
Early Years
George Villiers was the son of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, who was a close friend of King James I and King Charles I. His mother was Katherine Manners. George was only seven months old when his father was sadly killed.
He and his younger brother, Francis, grew up in the royal household with King Charles I's own children. These included the future King Charles II and King James II. George studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and earned a Master of Arts degree in 1642. For a while, the famous thinker Thomas Hobbes taught him geometry. During this time, he also became friends with George Aglionby, who encouraged him to support the King in the Civil War.
Fighting in the English Civil War
During the English Civil War, George Villiers fought for King Charles I. He took part in Prince Rupert's attack on Lichfield Close in April 1643.
George and his brother traveled abroad under the care of the Earl of Northumberland. They lived in Florence and Rome. When the Second English Civil War began, they joined Royalist forces in July 1648. These forces were led by Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland.
Buckingham became a general for a small group of 600 men. This group was defeated near Kingston upon Thames, and Buckingham's brother Francis was killed. Buckingham bravely fought and escaped, becoming a legend among the Royalists. After another battle, he managed to escape to the Netherlands.
Living in Exile with Charles II
Because he fought in the rebellion, George's lands were taken away. They were given to his future father-in-law, Lord Fairfax. On 19 September 1649, King Charles II gave him a special honor called the Order of the Garter. The King also made him a royal advisor on 6 April 1650.
Buckingham supported working with Scottish groups called Presbyterians. He went with Charles to Scotland in June. He also allied himself with the Marquess of Argyll. Buckingham fought alongside Charles at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651. He then escaped alone to Rotterdam in October.
His talks with Oliver Cromwell's government and his willingness to give up some church interests made him different from other royal advisors. This also reduced his influence. He became even more distant from the royal family when he tried to marry the King's widowed sister, Mary, Princess of Orange. A money disagreement with Charles also caused problems.
Returning to England and Imprisonment
In 1657, George Villiers returned to England. On 15 September, he married Mary Fairfax. She was the daughter of Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Mary had fallen in love with him, even though she was supposed to marry someone else.
Buckingham was soon suspected of planning a plot against the government. He was arrested on 9 October. He was placed under house arrest in April 1658, escaped, and was arrested again on 18 August. He was then put in the Tower of London. His mother and father-in-law helped him get released on 23 February 1659. He promised not to help the government's enemies and was freed with a large payment from Fairfax as security. He later helped Fairfax, which he said led to the King being restored to power.
After the King's Return
When King Charles returned, he was at first cool towards Buckingham. But Buckingham quickly regained the King's favor. He was given important roles, like carrying the Sovereign's Orb at the coronation on 23 April 1661. He also became Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire. In the same year, he went with Princess Henrietta to Paris for her wedding. However, he was called back because he acted too boldly towards her.
On 28 April 1662, he became a member of the Privy Council. His lands, which were worth a lot of money, were given back to him. He was said to be the richest person under the King. He helped stop a planned uprising in Yorkshire in 1663. He also went to sea during the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1665. He took steps to defend against Dutch or French invasion in June 1666.
However, he could not get a very high position because of the influence of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, who was the Chancellor. Buckingham then started to plot against Clarendon. He got people in Parliament to support a law that stopped Irish cattle from being imported. This was partly to oppose Clarendon and partly to stop the Duke of Ormonde.
During these debates, he said that anyone against the law had "an Irish interest or an Irish understanding." This led to a challenge to a duel from Ormonde's son, Lord Ossory. Buckingham avoided the duel, and Ossory was sent to the Tower. A short time later, on 19 December, Buckingham got into a fight with the Marquess of Dorchester. Buckingham pulled off the marquess's wig, and Dorchester also grabbed some of Buckingham's hair. This behavior was very shocking in the House of Lords. Both men were sent to the Tower but were released after apologizing.
Buckingham's opposition to the government made him lose the King's favor. He was accused of planning against the King and of looking into the King's future. His arrest was ordered on 25 February 1667, and he lost all his jobs. He avoided capture until 27 June, when he gave himself up and was imprisoned in the Tower.
- Important members of the Cabal Ministry
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Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh
(1630–1673). -
Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
(1618–1685). -
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham (1628–1687).
-
John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale (1616–1682).
He was released by 17 July and got his favor and jobs back on 15 September. He then actively helped in the legal actions against Clarendon. When Clarendon lost power, Buckingham became the main minister. He held the important job of Master of the Horse, which he bought in 1668.
Buckingham signed a document in 1667 that led to the creation of the Royal African Company. In 1671, he was chosen as the head of Cambridge University. In 1672, he became a high official at the University of Oxford. He believed in religious tolerance, meaning he thought people should be free to practice their own religion. He supported a plan for religious understanding in 1668. He also advised the Royal Declaration of Indulgence in 1672.
Buckingham was involved in many scandals and plots during his time in office. He was thought to be behind the idea of the King divorcing the childless queen, Catherine of Braganza. He also plotted against James, Duke of York. He was even suspected of encouraging an attempt to kidnap and murder the Duke of Ormonde.
Arlington was another powerful member of the "Cabal" group. He controlled foreign affairs. Buckingham always supported an alliance with France. Arlington, however, made a treaty called the Triple Alliance of 1668. When King Charles made a secret agreement with France in 1670, Arlington handled the first Treaty of Dover. This treaty planned a joint attack on the Dutch Republic. Buckingham was sent to France to carry out fake negotiations for other treaties. He was very pleased with how Louis XIV received him. He said he was given "more honors than ever were given to any subject."
In June 1672, during the Third Anglo-Dutch War, he went with Arlington to negotiate with the Prince of Orange. When their terms were refused, they arranged a new treaty with Louis. After all this activity, he was disappointed not to be given command of a new army. He was given command of a regiment but did not like serving under someone else. He knew about the secret treaty of Dover. By late 1673, his dislike for Arlington became open. He tried to get him removed from power.
Losing Power
However, Buckingham's efforts failed. In January 1674, both houses of Parliament attacked him. In the Lords, people complained about his personal life. Buckingham and the Countess were told to apologize and promise not to live together again. In the House of Commons, he was criticized for supporting the French alliance and for promoting "popery" (Catholicism) and unfair government. He tried to blame Arlington. But the House asked the King to remove Buckingham from his advisors and jobs forever. King Charles, who had been waiting for a chance, quickly agreed.
Buckingham then retired and changed his ways. He went to church with his wife and started paying his debts. He became a "patriot" and was seen as a leader of the opposition party. In 1675, he strongly opposed a law called the Test Oath. He also introduced a bill to help nonconformists (Protestants who were not part of the Church of England).
In 1677, he was one of four lords who questioned if Parliament was legally meeting. They were sent to the Tower for refusing to apologize. He was released in July. He then started working with the French ambassador to stop the King from getting money. In 1678, he visited Paris to get help from Louis XIV for the opposition.
He actively helped in the legal actions against those involved in the "Popish Plot". He accused a judge of favoring Catholics. He helped elect Whig candidates to Parliament. He also became a champion for those who disagreed with the Church of England. However, he separated himself from the Whigs on the issue of who would inherit the throne. This was probably because he disliked the Duke of Monmouth and the Earl of Shaftesbury. He was restored to the King's favor in 1684.
Retirement Years
Buckingham did not take part in public life after James II became king. He returned to his home in Helmsley in Yorkshire. This was likely because of his poor health and money problems. In 1685, he published a pamphlet about why people should have a religion. In it, he also wrote about his favorite topic, religious tolerance. King James sent a priest to him, hoping to convert him to Catholicism, but Buckingham made fun of the arguments.
He died on 16 April 1687, from a cold he caught while hunting. He passed away in the house of a tenant in Kirkbymoorside in Yorkshire. He expressed great regret, feeling "despised by my country and I fear forsaken by my God."
The sad description of his death by Alexander Pope is very exaggerated. Buckingham was buried on 7 June 1687 in Henry VII's chapel in Westminster Abbey. His funeral was grander than the late king's. With his death, the family line ended, as he had no legitimate children. His large estate was completely lost. Only the arched terrace remains of his huge house at Cliveden in Buckinghamshire.
Character and Personality
Buckingham was part of a group of lively courtiers called the "Merry Gang." Other members included John Wilmot, Sir Charles Sedley, and playwrights William Wycherley and George Etherege. People often thought Buckingham was showy and not always honest.
However, even those who criticized him agreed he was good-humored, kind, generous, and an amazing mimic. He was also a leader in fashion. His good looks and funny wit made him very charming to people of his time. This was true even with his moral faults. Many writers described him, including Burnet and John Dryden. John Reresby called him "the first gentleman of person and wit I think I ever saw." Dean Lockier said he was unmatched in riding, dancing, and fencing. He added, "When he came into the presence-chamber it was impossible for you not to follow him with your eye as he went along, he moved so gracefully." Racing and hunting were his favorite sports.
The Duke supported writers like Abraham Cowley and William Wycherley. He also experimented with chemistry and started the Vauxhall glassworks in Lambeth. John Dryden famously described him as "Zimri" in his poem Absalom and Achitophel.
Works and Writings
Buckingham wrote poems, pamphlets, and plays. These showed he had a clear talent for writing, even if it wasn't fully developed. A collection of his works was first published in 1704. He wrote The Rehearsal, a funny and clever play that made fun of heroic dramas. It was especially aimed at Dryden's The Conquest of Granada. This play was very popular and was copied by other writers. It is believed that Samuel Butler helped him write it. Dryden got his revenge by describing Buckingham as Zimri in his poem.
Buckingham also published two adapted plays: a version of John Fletcher's The Chances (1682) and The Restoration or Right will take place (published 1714). Another work he wrote was The Battle of Sedgmoor.
Like his father, the Duke appears in Alexandre Dumas père's "Musketeer" novels. In The Vicomte de Bragelonne, he escorts King Charles II's sister, Henrietta, to France for her marriage. He quickly falls in love with her. The Duke of Orleans, Henrietta's husband, notices this and tells his mother. The Queen, who had loved Villiers Senior, convinces him to return to England for the sake of French-English relations. While in France, he makes an enemy of Comte de Wardes. Before leaving, the two men duel, and de Wardes is injured.
Scientific Interests
The Duke was interested in science throughout his life. He developed this interest during the Civil War while he was in exile in France. There, he did many experiments with Prince Charles (who later became King Charles II). He was especially interested in alchemy, hoping to find a way to create the philosopher's stone. This fascination with alchemy lasted his whole life. Often, when he was away from court, people thought he was visiting a lover. But many times, he was actually busy with his experiments.
During his life, Buckingham set up several laboratories for his experiments. The first was built at Fairfax Hall, which he got through his marriage. He also had a lab in Wallingford House in Westminster. Later in life, when he was not in favor at court, he went back to Fairfax Hall to enjoy hunting and working in his lab. Even when he was sent to the Tower for treason, he was allowed to have his own private laboratory to continue his experiments.
Besides his personal interests, Buckingham was also involved in the wider scientific community. He became a member of the Royal Society on 15 May 1661. The society listed his special skill as "Chemical." The Duke had a regular but quiet interest in the society. For example, the society asked him to have his chemist make distilled charcoal for their experiments. They also asked him to provide a sample of unicorn horn for study. Later, in 1666, the society asked him for some rooms in York House, Strand to use.
The Duke had other scientific activities. He often visited the King's own laboratory in Whitehall. There, he would watch experiments and dissections with the King. Buckingham also bought and expanded the Vauxhall Glassworks. In 1676, John Evelyn praised the quality of its products in his diary. However, unlike King Charles, Buckingham showed no interest in botany. When John Evelyn visited Cliveden House in 1679, he was disappointed to find a garden that mostly contained ferns.
Unfortunately, the many hours the Duke spent in his laboratories harmed his health. Later in his life, he showed signs of mercury poisoning.
Legacy
In the 2003 British TV mini-series Charles II: The Power and The Passion, George Villiers is played by the actor Rupert Graves.
In the 2004 movie Stage Beauty, Ben Chaplin plays him.
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See also
In Spanish: George Villiers (1628-1687) para niños
