Buckingham, GEORGE VILLIERS, DUKE OF

Buckingham, GEORGE VILLIERS, DUKE OF, third son of Sir George Villiers, was born at his father's seat of Brooksby, Leicestershire, in 1592. In 1614 he was brought before the notice of James I., and was soon received into high favour, as successor to the Earl of Somerset. He was knighted, raised to the peerage as Viscount Villiers in 1616, and became Marquis of Buckingham in 1618. Well-paid offices and rich lands were heaped on him so profusely, that, from a threadbare hanger-on at court, he became, with a single exception, the wealthiest noble in England. In 1620 he married the daughter of the Earl of Rutland, the richest heiress in the kingdom. In 1623, while the Spanish match was in progress, Buckingham persuaded Charles to go himself to Madrid and prosecute his suit in person. The ultimate failure of the negotiations was greatly owing to Buckingham's arrogance. Both Charles and Buckingham returned from Spain in fierce wrath against that power. In his absence Buckingham was created a duke, and on his return nominated Lord-Warden of the Cinque Ports. He carried on the negotiation for the marriage of Charles with the Princess Henrietta of France; and on Charles's accession in 1625, the duke maintained his ascendancy at court. But after the ill-fated expedition against Cadiz, he became odious to the nation, was impeached by the Commons, and only saved by the king dissolving parliament. His insolent behaviour, shown at this period in making love to the queen of France, next helped to embroil us with that country. In 1627 he appeared with an armament before Rochelle, then in possession of the Huguenots, and in revolt against the French crown. But they refused him admission within the harbour; and when his troops made an ill-conducted descent on the neighbouring Isle of Rhé, they were defeated, and Buckingham returned in disgrace to England. He soon after undertook a second expedition to Rochelle, and had gone down to Portsmouth for embarkation, when on 23d August 1628 he was assassinated by a discontented subaltern, John Felton, who was hanged for the crime at Tyburn.