George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax

George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax ( * November 11, 1633 in Thornhill, Yorkshire, † April 5, 1695 in London ) was an English politician and author.

Origin and Early Years

The family of Savile was a member of the gentry; his father was Sir William Savile, 3rd Baronet, who distinguished himself in the English Civil War on the side of the king. Anthony Ashley -Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, who later became his arch-enemy, was his uncle. The family was wealthy and had considerable land holdings as well as good relations.

Educated at Shrewsbury School and trained by private tutors in France and Italy, he was already elected in 1660 as Member of Parliament in the House of Commons. He decided then, however, not to reapply and instead of serving as a lieutenant in the cavalry in Yorkshire. 1667, he was promoted to "Captain " and called Prince Rupert's regiment.

Political career

1667 Savile was raised at the instigation of the Duke of York as Viscount Halifax and Baron Savile, of Eland, in the hereditary nobility, a result he was given a seat in the House of Lords, the House of Lords.

As a member of the Privy Council, to which he was appointed in 1672, he opposed the pro- Catholic and pro- French circuit of King Charles II, which led to his dismissal from the Council only four years later. However, especially during the Popish plot, he represented gemäßte positions. 1679 but was rehabilitated by his elevation to the Earl of Halifax and again included in the Privy Council.

In the aftermath Saviles influence grew, he became in 1682 Lord Privy Seal, at the same time again, now raised to the Marquess of Halifax and in 1685 Lord President of the Council. After the accession of King James II, he was in 1685 but again dismissed from the Privy Council because of the protest against the abolition of the Test Act and the Habeas Corpus Act.

1688 Savile was a negotiator in the talks with the Prince of Orange -Nassau (later King William III. ), Who had landed at the instigation of a part of the nobility with troops in England to overthrow King James II (see Glorious Revolution). After the king had fled, Savile took over the chairmanship of the House of Lords and prompted measures to restore peace and order. Then he moved permanently to the Williams side and was elected Speaker of the Upper House. In this role he was William and his wife Maria formally to the Crown. He then headed the proclamation of the accession to the throne.

1689 Savile was again Lord Privy Seal, then lost but soon the backing of the forming parties, because it does not allow it take and took independent positions. This he was pushed in the following years, from all offices.

Savile died in 1695, he is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Family

Savile was married twice. He first married in 1656 Lady Dorothy Spencer, a daughter of Henry Spencer, 1st Earl of Sunderland, with whom he had two children. After her death, married Gertrude Savile 1672 Pierrepont, with whom he had a daughter. Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, for its part, a well-known politician, was his grandson.