Anth. Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury

J Houbraken after Peter Lely
Anth. Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury
Knapton ca. 1740
Copper engraving
370 x 230 mm
Trimmed within platemark
£65
Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st earl of Shaftesbury, also called (from 1631) Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, 2nd Baronet (born July 22, 1621, Wimborne St. Giles, Dorset, Eng.—died Jan. 21, 1683, Amsterdam, Neth.), English politician, a member of the Council of State (1653-54; 1659) during the Commonwealth, and a member of Charles II’s “Cabinet Council” and lord chancellor (1672-73). Seeking to exclude the Roman Catholic duke of York (the future James II) from the succession, he was ultimately charged with treason. Though acquitted, he fled into exile.