Shaftesbury

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

ANTHONY ASH- LEY COOPER, FIRST EARL OF, an English statesman; born in Wimborne, St. Giles, Dorsetshire, England, July 22, 1621. He succeeded to a baronetcy on the death of his father in 1631. After leaving Exeter College, Oxford, he studied law at Lincoln's Inn, and was chosen representative for Tewkesbury in 1640. At the commencement of the Civil War he supported the royal cause, but advised mutual concession. Finding that in consequence of this opinion he was distrusted by the court he joined the Parliament, and received command of its forces in Dorsetshire. When Cromwell turned out the Long Parliament, Sir Anthony was one of the members of the convention which succeeded, nevertheless he signed the protestation charging the Protector with arbitrary government, which did not, however, prevent him from becoming one of his privy-council. After the deposition of Richard Cromwell he aided the restoration of Charles II. with all his influence, and in 1661 was created Baron Ashley, and appointed chancellor of the exchequer and a lord of the treasury. Yet he strongly opposed the Corporation Act (1661) and the Act of Uniformity (1662), both measures favored by the crown. He afterward became a member of the obnoxious cabal. In 1672 he was created Earl of Shaftesbury and lord high chancellor. His conduct on the bench was able and impartial, but he was deprived of office, probably through the influence of the Duke of York; and he at once became one of the most powerful leaders of the opposition. For his warmth in asserting that a prorogation of 15 months amounted to a dissolution of Parliament he was confined in the Tower from February, 1677, to February, 1678. After his liberation he took a prominnent part in the attacks on Catholics during the popish-plot scare. In 1679 he became president of the council and the same ار year was instrumental in passing the Habeas Corpus Act. In 1681 he was indicted for high treason but acquitted. He entered into the plots of the Monmouth party and had to fly to Holland, where he died in Amsterdam, Jan. 21, 1683. He ryden's famous Dryden's is the Achitophel of satire.