Earl of Essex. English Statesman. Born son of Arthur Capel, 1st Baron Capel, and Elizabeth Morrison. His early education was curtailed by the English Civil War but he apparently taught himself Latin and mathematics and was considered quite accomplished. In the course the Civil War, Baron Capel was executed by the Parliamentarians in 1649 and Arthur succeeded to his titles. After the restoration of Charles II, Capel was created Viscount Malden and Earl of Essex, the previous line earls having died out in 1646. In 1672 he was made a privy councilor and lord-lieutenant of Ireland, serving with distinction and unprecedented integrity until 1677 when he was recalled. In 1679, he was appointed a lord commissioner of the treasury despite his antagonism to court life, to Roman Catholicism, and to extension of the royal prerogative which tended to alienate Charles II. In November 1680 he voted for the exclusion of James, the king's Roman Catholic brother, from the line of succession. Although Essex took no part in the most extreme actions of his party, after the discovery of the so-called Rye House Plot in June 1683 which was said to target Prince James and Charles II for assassination, he was arrested committed to the Tower on a charge of high treason. In July Essex was discovered in his rooms, his throat slashed. An immediate accusation of murder was made against the government, but it was just as possible that Essex had killed himself to avoid public disgrace and to prevent attainder and preserve his titles and estates for his family. Contemporaries apparently doubted he had ever engaged in any seditious plot against his king. He was succeeded by his son, Algernon, 2nd Earl of Essex.
Earl of Essex. English Statesman. Born son of Arthur Capel, 1st Baron Capel, and Elizabeth Morrison. His early education was curtailed by the English Civil War but he apparently taught himself Latin and mathematics and was considered quite accomplished. In the course the Civil War, Baron Capel was executed by the Parliamentarians in 1649 and Arthur succeeded to his titles. After the restoration of Charles II, Capel was created Viscount Malden and Earl of Essex, the previous line earls having died out in 1646. In 1672 he was made a privy councilor and lord-lieutenant of Ireland, serving with distinction and unprecedented integrity until 1677 when he was recalled. In 1679, he was appointed a lord commissioner of the treasury despite his antagonism to court life, to Roman Catholicism, and to extension of the royal prerogative which tended to alienate Charles II. In November 1680 he voted for the exclusion of James, the king's Roman Catholic brother, from the line of succession. Although Essex took no part in the most extreme actions of his party, after the discovery of the so-called Rye House Plot in June 1683 which was said to target Prince James and Charles II for assassination, he was arrested committed to the Tower on a charge of high treason. In July Essex was discovered in his rooms, his throat slashed. An immediate accusation of murder was made against the government, but it was just as possible that Essex had killed himself to avoid public disgrace and to prevent attainder and preserve his titles and estates for his family. Contemporaries apparently doubted he had ever engaged in any seditious plot against his king. He was succeeded by his son, Algernon, 2nd Earl of Essex.
Bio by: Iola
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