Clarendon ministry

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The Disgrace of Lord Clarendon by Edward Matthew Ward, 1846. It depicts Clarendon's dismissal by Charles II at Whitehall Palacein 1667. Edward Matthew Ward (1816-1879) - The Disgrace of Lord Clarendon, after his Last Interview with the King - Scene at Whitehall Palace, in 1667 (replica) - N00431 - National Gallery.jpg
The Disgrace of Lord Clarendon by Edward Matthew Ward, 1846. It depicts Clarendon's dismissal by Charles II at Whitehall Palacein 1667.

The Clarendon ministry was forged out of the royalist camp of Charles II, who was returned to the throne (the English Restoration) in 1660. Two years previously, Lord Hyde (later Earl of Clarendon) had been appointed Lord Chancellor, and in 1660, he was joined by several other powerful statesmen, including the heir presumptive of the English throne, the Duke of York. After the Second Anglo-Dutch War, however, Charles lost confidence in his ministers, and in 1667, five statesmen took cooperative power in the Cabal ministry.

Contents

Lord Clarendon was impeached by the House of Commons and forced to flee; [1] the Duke of Albemarle sold his position to George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham; and Sir George Carteret simply left his position, eventually being forced out of the House two years later.

Committee for Foreign Affairs

The Privy Council Committee for Foreign Affairs served as the ministry; other significant statesmen not in the committee are listed in the next section. As the name of the ministry would suggest, Lord Clarendon (earlier Lord Hyde) was, in effect, the leader of the government.

OfficeNameTermNotes
Lord Chancellor Edward Hyde, 1st Baron Hyde 16601667appointed 1658; created Earl of Clarendon in 1661
Lord High Treasurer Thomas Wriothesley, 4th Earl of Southampton 16601667died before government was dissolved
Lord Steward James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde 16601667also Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (16621668)
Master of the Horse George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle 16601667also Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (16601662)
Southern Secretary Sir Edward Nicholas 16601662appointed 1654
Sir Henry Bennet, Bt. 16621667created Baron Arlington in 1664
Northern Secretary Sir William Morice 16601667created a baronet in 1661
Secretary to the Admiralty Sir William Coventry 16651667

Ministers not in committee

OfficeNameTermNotes
Lord Privy Seal John Robartes, 1st Baron Robartes 16611667
Lord High Admiral Prince James, Duke of York 16601667
Lord Chamberlain Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester 16601667
Secretary of State for Scotland John Maitland, 2nd Earl of Lauderdale 16601667
Chancellor of the Exchequer Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Baron Ashley 16611667
Treasurer of the Navy Sir George Carteret, Bt.16601667also Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Preceded by Government of England
16601667
Succeeded by

References

  1. "Hyde, Edward, first earl of Clarendon" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/14328. ISBN   978-0-19-861412-8.(Subscription or UK public library membership required.)