Leeds, THOMAS OSBORNE, DUKE OF

Leeds, THOMAS OSBORNE, DUKE OF, better known in history as Earl of Danby, English statesman, was the son of a Yorkshire baronet, and was born in 1631. He entered parliament for York in 1661 as a warm supporter of the king and of the Established Church. He first held office in 1667 as an auditor of the Treasury; after that his promotion was rapid: in 1671 he was appointed Treasurer of the Navy, in 1673 Viscount Latimer and Baron Danby, and in 1674 Lord High Treasurer and Earl of Danby. He endeavoured to enforce the laws against Roman Catholics and Dissenters; and, though he disliked French aggression, and so far favoured the Dutch party that he effectively used his influence to get Princess Mary married to William of Orange in 1677, he lent himself to be the agent of Charles, and on his behalf negotiated with Louis XIV. for bribes to the English king. Louis, however, intrigued successfully for Danby's downfall: the Commons impeached him in 1678 on six different counts, the chief of which were treating traitorously with foreign powers without the consent of council, aiming at the introduction of arbitrary power, and squandering public money. He was not brought to trial, but kept in the Tower until 1683, although Charles gave him at once a full pardon. This the Commons refused to recognise, and, in spite of a dissolution, still persisted in the impeachment. Danby is chiefly remembered in history for the part he played at the revolution of 1688. When James began to threaten the Established Church Danby returned to active political life. He signed the invitation to William of Orange and secured York for him. His reward was a rise in rank from earl to marquis (of Carnarthen) and the presidency of the council, virtually the chief place in the government. But he again bribed as he had done during his first administration, and practised the same unscrupulous methods of government. He was created Duke of Leeds in 1694. But in 1695 he was impeached a second time, for having himself accepted 5000 guineas from the East India Company as the price of his influence in securing an extension of their chartered privileges. He again managed to stave off condemnation; but his power was now virtually gone, and in May 1699 he finally retired. After that his principal public appearance was to speak in defence of Sacheverell in 1710, when he stultified himself by condemning the principle of the revolution. He died at Easton, in Northamptonshire, on 26th July 1712. See Life by T. P. Courtenay (1838).