Anthony Ashley-Cooper Biography

Birth of Anthony Ashley-Cooper

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

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

Joins the Parliamentarians

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

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

Appointed Member of Barebones Parliament

Appointed Member of Council of State

Appointed Member of Barebones Parliament

Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1st term

Appointed Privy Councillor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Appointed Lord Chancellor

Created Earl of Shaftsbury

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

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

Secures the passing of the Habeas Corpus Act

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

Appointed Party Leader of the Whig Party

Appointed Party Leader of the Whig or "Country" Party

Helps found the Court Party establishing the beginning of Government opposition

Arrested for opposing the prorogation of Parliament

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

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

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

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

Appointed President of the Privy Council

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

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

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

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

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

An indictment for treason fails & takes exile in Holland

An indictment for treason fails & takes exile in Holland

Death of Anthony Ashley-Cooper

Elected Member of Parliament

Created Earl of Shaftesbury, 3rd