Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon

1609-1674. Chancellor of Charles II, father of Anne Hyde, father-in-law of James II and grandfather of Queen Mary and Queen Anne.

Edward Hyde was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in 1609. As a young man he was interested in literature and history. Later he searched for and appreciated the company of contemporary scholars and became a member of Ben Jonson's circle. His first wife, who died only six months after their marriage, enabled him, via her family position, to make first connections to King Charles I. He married his second wife in 1634 and meanwhile had a successful career as a lawyer and legal adviser.

He became member of the Short Parliament in 1640 and this would be the beginning of a long-term political career. Hyde was concerned with law abuse cases, e.g. ship-money case, and this positioned him as an opponent of the King at first. But his interest was to establish a fair legal system, therefore he tried to mediate between the King and the parliamentarians. He did not manage to save the Short Parliament. As an MP of the Long Parliament, he became associated with the members of the new growing Royalist Party and was against the Grand Remonstrance.

Edward Hyde became a faithful supporter of Charles I and in 1643 was knighted. He was appointed to the Privy Council and later to the secret committee which discussed the matters with the King before they were presented to the Privy Council. After the defeat of the Royalists, he retreated to Jersey, where he started writing the history of English Civil Wars. After two years he joined Prince Charles in exile and after the Restoration retained the office of Lord Chancellor and was created Earl of Clarendon.

His conservative ideas on politics in Parliament and on morals in Court would later disfavour his political position and career. Edward Hyde was about to be impeached by Parliament, therefore he went to exile in France where he finished the history of the Civil War. The book was published only posthumously under the title The True Historical Narrative of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England.

References

Pant, David. Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, 1609-74. 10. Jun. 2007. 03. Jul. 2009. http://www.brittish-civil-wars-.co.uk/biog/hyde.htm

Edward Hyde, 1st earl of Clarendon. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 4. Jul. 2009. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/119814/Edward-Hyde-1st-earl-of-Clarendon-Viscount-Cornbury

Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon. NC Learning. 04. Jul. 2009. http://www.learnnc.org/lp/multimedia/6216