Edward Conway, 1st Earl of Conway
Encyclopedia
Edward Conway, 1st Earl of Conway PC, FRS
(c. 1623 – 11 August 1683) was an English
peer and politician who served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department
between 1681 and 1683.
and Frances Popham, daughter of Sir Francis Popham
. He married Anne Finch
, daughter of Sir Heneage Finch
, on 11 February 1651. He succeeded as 3rd Viscount Conway (in the Peerage of England
) and 3rd Viscount Killultagh (in the Peerage of Ireland
) following the death of his father in 1655.
Conway became a member of the Irish Privy Council
in 1660 and was a confidant of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
. He became became a Fellow of the Royal Society on 2 January 1668, became governor of Charlemont Fort
in 1671 and served as Master of the Ordnance in Ireland from 1679.
On 3 December 1679, Conway was created Earl of Conway. On 2 February 1681, he joined the English Privy Council and became Secretary of State for the Northern Department
. He resigned in January 1683 amid allegations that he was complicit in "crimes and misdemeanours ... either in relation to the King's person or his public negotiations or transactions with foreign ambassadors, or in not rightly pursuing the King's instructions to ambassadors abroad". He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
from 1682 to 1683.
His wife, Anne, died on 23 February 1679 and he retired to his family's seat, Ragley Hall
in Warwickshire
. He married Elizabeth Booth, daughter of George Booth, 1st Baron Delamer
, who died in July 1681. He married for a third time, to Ursula Stawell (died 13 August 1697), daughter of George Stawell, before he died on 11 August 1683. He was buried in Arrow, Warwickshire
, and with no heirs, his titles became extinct on his death. He was survived by his wife, who later married John Sheffield, later 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby
.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(c. 1623 – 11 August 1683) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
peer and politician who served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department
Secretary of State for the Northern Department
The Secretary of State for the Northern Department was a position in the Cabinet of the government of Great Britain up to 1782. Before the Act of Union, 1707, the Secretary of State's responsibilities were in relation to the English government, not the British. Even after the Union, there was...
between 1681 and 1683.
Life
Conway was born circa 1623 to politician Edward Conway, 2nd Viscount ConwayEdward Conway, 2nd Viscount Conway
Edward Conway, 2nd Viscount Conway PC was an English politician, military commander and peer.-Early life and education:...
and Frances Popham, daughter of Sir Francis Popham
Francis Popham
Sir Francis Popham was an English soldier and politician.Francis Popham was the only son of Sir John Popham and was educated at Balliol College, Oxford and the Middle Temple...
. He married Anne Finch
Anne Conway, Viscountess Conway
Anne Conway, Viscountess Conway was an English philosopher whose work, in the tradition of the Cambridge Platonists, was an influence on Leibniz....
, daughter of Sir Heneage Finch
Heneage Finch (Speaker)
Sir Heneage Finch was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1607 and 1626. He was Speaker of the English House of Commons in 1626....
, on 11 February 1651. He succeeded as 3rd Viscount Conway (in the Peerage of England
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain....
) and 3rd Viscount Killultagh (in the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
) following the death of his father in 1655.
Conway became a member of the Irish Privy Council
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
in 1660 and was a confidant of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde PC was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the second of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom. He was the friend of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, who appointeed him commander of the Cavalier forces in Ireland. From 1641 to 1647, he...
. He became became a Fellow of the Royal Society on 2 January 1668, became governor of Charlemont Fort
Charlemont Fort
Charlemont Fort was a garrison built in Charlemont, County Armagh in 1602 by Lord Mountjoy. It was destroyed in 1920 by fire and the only building remaining today is the gatehouse. The name Charlemont came from Charles Blount's Christian name...
in 1671 and served as Master of the Ordnance in Ireland from 1679.
On 3 December 1679, Conway was created Earl of Conway. On 2 February 1681, he joined the English Privy Council and became Secretary of State for the Northern Department
Secretary of State for the Northern Department
The Secretary of State for the Northern Department was a position in the Cabinet of the government of Great Britain up to 1782. Before the Act of Union, 1707, the Secretary of State's responsibilities were in relation to the English government, not the British. Even after the Union, there was...
. He resigned in January 1683 amid allegations that he was complicit in "crimes and misdemeanours ... either in relation to the King's person or his public negotiations or transactions with foreign ambassadors, or in not rightly pursuing the King's instructions to ambassadors abroad". He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire
This is an incomplete list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire. Since 1728, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Warwickshire.-Lord Lieutenants of Warwickshire:*Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick 1569–1570*vacant...
from 1682 to 1683.
His wife, Anne, died on 23 February 1679 and he retired to his family's seat, Ragley Hall
Ragley Hall
Ragley Hall is located south of Alcester, Warwickshire, eight miles west of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the ancestral seat of the Marquess of Hertford and is one of the stately homes of England.-The present day:...
in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
. He married Elizabeth Booth, daughter of George Booth, 1st Baron Delamer
George Booth, 1st Baron Delamer
George Booth, 1st Baron Delamer , known as Sir George Booth, 2nd Baronet, from 1652 to 1661, was an English peer.-Civil War:...
, who died in July 1681. He married for a third time, to Ursula Stawell (died 13 August 1697), daughter of George Stawell, before he died on 11 August 1683. He was buried in Arrow, Warwickshire
Arrow, Warwickshire
Arrow is a village in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. Together with the entirely rural parish of Weethley, it forms the combined civil parish of Arrow with Weethley...
, and with no heirs, his titles became extinct on his death. He was survived by his wife, who later married John Sheffield, later 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby
John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby
John Sheffield, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Normanby, KG, PC , was a poet and notable Tory politician of the late Stuart period, who served as Lord Privy Seal and Lord President of the Council.-Career:...
.