The political career of Edward Sackville, fourth Earl of Dorset (1590-1652)
This dissertation seeks to illuminate early Stuart political history by a study of one important public figure. The fourth Earl of Dorset was a member of Charles I's Privy Council, Lord Chamberlain to Queen Henrietta Maria, and Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and Middlesex. He attended all the Parliaments of the 1620's, and sat in the Short and Long Parliaments. He was active in Court and Council throughout the 1630's, and sided with the King in the Civil War. He consistently advocated harmony and reconciliation in a period of growing polarisation. This study investigates Dorset's perception of early seventeenth century political developments, his response to them, and the reasons why he and other moderates failed to prevent civil war. It thus contributes to current debates both on the early modern peerage, and on the origins and nature of the English Civil War. The first chapter looks at Dorset's life and career up to the age of thirty. In Chapter Two a discussion of his rapid rise to political prominence during the 1620's explores the reasons for his success and the nature of his motivation. Chapter Three investigates Dorset's activities as a Privy Councillor and as the Queen's Lord Chamberlain in the 1630's.
Smith, David Lawrence
Political history
The political career of Edward Sackville, fourth Earl of Dorset (1590-1652). This dissertation seeks to illuminate early Stuart political history by a study of one important public figure. The fourth Earl of Dorset was a member of Charles I's Privy Council, Lord Chamberlain to Queen Henrietta Maria, and Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and Middlesex. He attended all the Parliaments of the 1620's, and sat in the Short and Long Parliaments. He was active in Court and Council throughout the 1630's, and sided with the King in the Civil War. He consistently advocated harmony and reconciliation in a period of growing polarisation. This study investigates Dorset's perception of early seventeenth century political developments, his response to them, and the reasons why he and other moderates failed to prevent civil war. It thus contributes to current debates both on the early modern peerage, and on the origins and nature of the English Civil War. The first chapter looks at Dorset's life and career up to the age of thirty. In Chapter Two a discussion of his rapid rise to political prominence during the 1620's explores the reasons for his success and the nature of his motivation. Chapter Three investigates Dorset's activities as a Privy Councillor and as the Queen's Lord Chamberlain in the 1630's.
political_career edward fourth earl dorset seek_illuminate early_stuart political_history study one_important public figure fourth earl dorset member charles privy council lord queen lord sussex attend sit short_long active court council throughout side king civil_war consistently advocate harmony reconciliation period grow polarisation study_investigate dorset perception political_development response reason moderate fail prevent civil_war thus_contribute current_debate early_modern peerage origins nature english_civil_war first look dorset life_career discussion rapid rise political prominence explore reason success nature motivation investigates dorset activity privy councillor queen lord