Sidney Godolphin 1st earl of Godolphin

Sidney Godolphin Godolphin, 1st earl of , 1645-1712, English statesman. He early established a lasting friendship with John Churchill (later duke of Marlborough ), and their political fortunes were closely linked. They had a small bloc of supporters in Parliament, but Godolphin's power was based on his considerable financial knowledge and expertise and resulting favor at court rather than on parliamentary strength. A member of Parliament from 1668, he was appointed a lord of the treasury in 1679 and first lord of the treasury in 1684. Charles II created him a baron in the same year. Although he had supported the attempt (1680) to exclude the future James II from the throne, he remained at the treasury on James's accession (1685) and was one of his closest advisers. He was reappointed (1689) by William III and served as treasury commissioner until he was implicated (1696) in a supposed plot to restore James II. He was again first lord of the treasury from 1700 to 1701. On the accession (1702) of Queen Anne, Godolphin was reappointed to the treasury and became in effect chief minister. The early stability of his ministry, based on a Tory majority and his own and the Marlboroughs's friendship with the queen, was gradually eroded. He became increasingly dependent on the support of the Whig Junto, especially in order to carry on the War of the Spanish Succession. The unpopularity of the war was a major factor in the fall of the ministry in 1710.

Godolphin, Sidney Godolphin, 1st earl of (1645–1712). Prime minister. MP for Helston (1668–79) and St Mawes (1679–81), Godolphin was created baron (1684) and earl (1706). A Tory by inclination, he was the archetypal bureaucratic politician, who held the offices of a lord of the Treasury (1679), secretary of state for the northern department (1684), 1st lord of the Treasury (1684–5, 1690–6, 1700–1), chamberlain to Queen Mary of Modena, and a commissioner of the Treasury (1687). From the accession of Anne, he and Marlborough (the ‘duumvirate’), ran the government, Godolphin being lord treasurer and, effectively, prime minister (1702–10). His forte was in financial affairs, and he was responsible for raising the money which enabled England to fight 20 years of continental wars.

Godolphin, Sidney Godolphin, 1st earl of (1645–1712). Prime minister. MP for Helston (1668–79) and St Mawes (1679–81), Godolphin was created baron (1684) and earl (1706). A Tory by inclination, he was the archetypal bureaucratic politician, described as ‘never in the way and never out of it’, who held the offices of a lord of the Treasury (1679), secretary of state for the northern department (1684), 1st lord of the Treasury (1684–5, 1690–6, 1700–1), chamberlain to Queen Mary of Modena, and a commissioner of the Treasury (1687). From the accession of Anne, he and Marlborough (the ‘duumvirate’), and from 1704 to 1708 with Robert Harley (the ‘triumvirate’), as political managers, ran the government, Godolphin being lord treasurer and, effectively, prime minister (1702–10). His forte was in financial affairs, and he was responsible for raising the money which enabled England to fight 20 years of continental wars. He found himself increasingly unable to withstand political pressure from the Whig Junto and the duchess of Marlborough, and from 1706 the Whigs began to take over the ministry, leading to Harley's resignation in 1708. Harley intrigued with the queen and took his revenge in 1710 when Godolphin was dismissed.

Clyve Jones