Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey
Encyclopedia
Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey (c. 1656 – 25 August 1711) son of Sir Edward Villiers (1620–1689) of Richmond and Frances Howard, the youngest daughter of Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
and Elizabeth Hume, was created Baron Villiers and Viscount Villiers in 1691 and Earl of Jersey
in 1697.
His grandfather, Sir Edward Villiers
(c. 1585-1626), Master of the Mint
and President of Munster, was half brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
, and of Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey
; his sister was Elizabeth Villiers, the mistress of William III
, and afterwards Countess of Orkney
. Villiers was Knight Marshal
to the royal household in succession to his father; Master of the Horse
to Queen Mary
; and Lord Chamberlain
to William III and Queen Anne
.
In 1696 he represented his country at the Congress of Ryswick; he was ambassador at The Hague
, and after becoming an earl was ambassador in Paris
. In 1699 he was made Secretary of State for the Southern Department
, and on three occasions he was one of the Lords Justices of England. In 1704 he was dismissed from office by Anne, and after this event he was concerned in some of the Jacobite schemes. He died on 25 August 1711 of apoplexy
.
He married Barbara Chiffinch (1663 - before 13th December 1735), daughter of William Chiffinch (1602-1688) on 17 December 1681. They had two sons and a daughter:
Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk
Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, KG was an English nobleman and politician.Born at the family estate of Saffron Walden, he was the son of Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk, by his second wife Catherine Knyvet of Charlton, and succeeded his father in 1626.Sir Theophilus Howard was named in...
and Elizabeth Hume, was created Baron Villiers and Viscount Villiers in 1691 and Earl of Jersey
Earl of Jersey
Earl of the Island of Jersey, usually shortened to Earl of Jersey, is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1697 for the statesman Edward Villiers, 1st Viscount Villiers, Ambassador to France from 1698 to 1699 and Secretary of State for the Southern Department from 1699 to 1700...
in 1697.
His grandfather, Sir Edward Villiers
Sir Edward Villiers
Sir Edward Villiers was an English politician, diplomat and office-holder.-Life:He was the eldest son of Sir George Villiers, by his first wife Audrey Saunders, making him half-brother to the court favourite George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey and...
(c. 1585-1626), Master of the Mint
Master of the Mint
Master of the Mint was an important office in the governments of Scotland and England, and later Great Britain, between the 16th and 19th centuries. The Master was the highest officer in the Royal Mint. Until 1699, appointment was usually for life. Its holder occasionally sat in the cabinet...
and President of Munster, was half brother of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG was the favourite, claimed by some to be the lover, of King James I of England. Despite a very patchy political and military record, he remained at the height of royal favour for the first two years of the reign of Charles I, until he was assassinated...
, and of Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey
Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey
Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey , known at court as Kit Villiers, was an English courtier, Gentleman of the Bedchamber and later Master of the Robes to King James I...
; his sister was Elizabeth Villiers, the mistress of William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, and afterwards Countess of Orkney
George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney
Field Marshal George Douglas-Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney KT was a British soldier and Scottish nobleman and the first British Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal. The son of the Duke and Duchess of Hamilton, he fought for William of Orange in Ireland and the Low Countries...
. Villiers was Knight Marshal
Knight Marshal
The Knight Marshal is a former office in the British Royal Household established by King Henry III in 1236. The position later became a Deputy to the Earl Marshal from the reign of Henry VIII until the office was abolished in 1846 ....
to the royal household in succession to his father; Master of the Horse
Master of the Horse
The Master of the Horse was a position of varying importance in several European nations.-Magister Equitum :...
to Queen Mary
Mary II of England
Mary II was joint Sovereign of England, Scotland, and Ireland with her husband and first cousin, William III and II, from 1689 until her death. William and Mary, both Protestants, became king and queen regnant, respectively, following the Glorious Revolution, which resulted in the deposition of...
; and Lord Chamberlain
Lord Chamberlain
The Lord Chamberlain or Lord Chamberlain of the Household is one of the chief officers of the Royal Household in the United Kingdom and is to be distinguished from the Lord Great Chamberlain, one of the Great Officers of State....
to William III and Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
.
In 1696 he represented his country at the Congress of Ryswick; he was ambassador at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, and after becoming an earl was ambassador in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1699 he was made Secretary of State for the Southern Department
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
The Secretary of State for the Southern Department was a position in the cabinet of the government of Kingdom of Great Britain up to 1782.Before 1782, the responsibilities of the two British Secretaries of State were divided not based on the principles of modern ministerial divisions, but...
, and on three occasions he was one of the Lords Justices of England. In 1704 he was dismissed from office by Anne, and after this event he was concerned in some of the Jacobite schemes. He died on 25 August 1711 of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
.
He married Barbara Chiffinch (1663 - before 13th December 1735), daughter of William Chiffinch (1602-1688) on 17 December 1681. They had two sons and a daughter:
- William VilliersWilliam Villiers, 2nd Earl of JerseyWilliam Villers, 2nd Earl of Jersey , known as Viscount Villiers from 1697 to 1711, was an English peerJersey was the son of Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey, and his wife Barbara . He represented Kent in the House of Commons from 1705 to 1708...
(c. 1682 - 13 July 1721) - Henry Villiers (d. 1743)
- Mary Villiers (d. 17 Jan 1734/35) Married Thomas Thynne (d. 1710) son of Henry Frederick Thynne and Dorothy Philips and in 1711 George Granville, 1st Baron LansdowneGeorge Granville, 1st Baron LansdowneGeorge Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne PC was an English poet, playwright, and politician who served as a Privy Counsellor from 1712.-Early life:...
. With Thomas she had a son: Thomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount WeymouthThomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount WeymouthThomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount Weymouth was an English peer, descended from the first Sir John Thynne of Longleat House.Thomas Thynne was born posthumously on 21 May 1710, the son of another Thomas Thynne and his wife Lady Mary Villiers....
.