High Politics in the Shadow of the Tower
About Danby and Shaftesbury in the 1670sby Tom Robertson
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Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby and later 1st Duke of Leeds, and Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, were two of the most significant political figures in post-restoration England and they clashed between 1673 and 1679. This was an age when politics was still a risky occupation, and both men spent substantial periods in the Tower; Osborne for almost 5 years and Ashley Cooper for 18 months in two spells, before he finally fled the country shortly before his death in 1682.
Their parliamentary rivalry was a precursor to better known contests between Pitt the Younger and Fox, and Gladstone and Disraeli. In addition the adversaries had much to do with the creation of the first political parties; a government or Court party, built up by Osborne which would later be characterised as Tory, and the Whigs founded by Ashley Cooper.
The 1670s saw high points of both careers; Osborne effectively governed England between 1674 and 1679, with occasional foreign policy interventions by King Charles II, and Ashley Cooper used his opposition party to overthrow Osborne, and came close to altering the Royal Succession. However the careers engrossed much else besides, with Ashley Cooper fighting on both sides in the Civil War, and holding important office under both Cromwell and Charles II, culminating in his prominent part in the Cabal ministry.
Osborne eventually obtained his release from the Tower in 1684, but then risked his career and his head again, by taking part in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and he went on to dominate another government, under William III between 1690 and 1695.
The Author of the book, Dr. Tom Robertson, is a native of Edinburgh who now lives at Berwick-on-Tweed. His business career was spent in research and development in the steel industry, finishing as the manager responsible for metallurgical research for the multi-national company Corus.
The book stems from long term interests, and nearly three years of study since his retirement.
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