Anthony Ashley-Cooper Biography and Timeline

Birth of Anthony Ashley-Cooper

Birth of Anthony Ashley-Cooper

Election to Short Parliament

Ashley-Cooper sits for Tewkesbury when the Short Parliament assembles.

Election to Long Parliament

Ashley-Cooper enters the Long Parliament as member for Downton.

Defection

Joins the Parliamentarians

Role range: 1642-1649

Siege of Corfe Castle

Ordered to besiege Corfe Castle, the only Royalist stronghold between Exeter & London

Role range: 1642-1649

Siege of Corfe Castle

The second siege, in 1646, is resisted for two months before the castle is betrayed by a member of the garrison. After its capture, the castle is slighted (destroyed) with some explosives mainly by "undermining" to ensure that it could never stand again as a Royalist stronghold

Role range: 1642-1649

Council of State

Appointed Member of Council of State

Role range: 1653-1654

Barebones Parliament

Appointed Member of Barebones Parliament

Privy Council

Appointed Member of Barebones Parliament

Chancellor of Exchequer

Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1st term

Role range: 1660-1660

Privy Council

Appointed Privy Councillor

Restoration

1 of 12 commissioners sent by the House of Commons to invite Charles II to return

Peerage

Ashley-Cooper is created Baron Ashley in the Restoration peerage.

Role range: 1621-1683

Chancellor of Exchequer

Ashley-Cooper serves as Chancellor of the Exchequer during the early Restoration.

Role range: 1661-1672

Cabinet

Ashley-Cooper is included among senior councillors in the Restoration government.

Role range: 1661-1672

Carolina Charter

Named as one of the Lords Proprietors in the Carolina charter.

Role range: 1621-1683

Staple Act

Ashley-Cooper supports fiscal and commercial policy tied to colonial trade regulation.

Role range: 1661-1672

Triennial Parliaments Act

Ashley-Cooper participates in government as Parliament reshapes the rules for future sessions.

Role range: 1661-1672

Lord Chancellor

Appointed Lord Chancellor

Role range: 1672-1673

Peerage

Created Earl of Shaftsbury

Dismissal

Supports the anti-Catholic test act & is dismissed by Charles II

Role range: 1672-1673

Legislation

Supports the anti-Catholic test act & is dismissed by Charles II

Role range: 1672-1673

Reform of Habeas Corpus

Secures the passing of the Habeas Corpus Act

Succession

Goes into opposition to organize the Whig Party & oppose James I

Party Leader

Appointed Party Leader of the Whig Party

Role range: 1674-1677

Whig Party

Helps found the Court Party establishing the beginning of Government opposition

Role range: 1674-1677

Party Leader

Appointed Party Leader of the Whig or "Country" Party

Role range: 1674-1677

Arrest of Anthony Ashley-Cooper

Arrested for opposing the prorogation of Parliament

Plot

Takes advantage of the fictitious Popish plot to create anti-catholic hysteria

Whig Party

Leads the Exclusionists to exclude Catholics from the throne & founds the Whig Party

Legislation

Simplifies the issue of writs, more than the King's Court can issue them. Passes the Habeas Corpus Act known as the "Shaftsburys Act"

Reform of Habeas Corpus

Simplifies the issue of writs, more than the King's Court can issue them. Passes the Habeas Corpus Act known as the "Shaftsburys Act"

Legislation

Supports the exclusion bill to keep the Catholic James II from the throne

Succession

Supports the exclusion bill to keep the Catholic James II from the throne

Privy Council

Appointed President of the Privy Council

Trial

Campaigns for the exclusionist lobby to exclude the future James III from the throne. Attempts to have the Duke of York tried as a Catholic

Treason

Tried for treason under the 1661 Act forbidding restriction of the King's liberty

Trial

Tried for treason under the 1661 Act forbidding restriction of the King's liberty. Acquited of all charges

Exile of Anthony Ashley-Cooper

An indictment for treason fails & takes exile in Holland

Treason

An indictment for treason fails & takes exile in Holland