Rothes, John Leslie, 1st duke of

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Rothes, John Leslie, 1st duke of [S] (1630–81). Leslie's father, the 6th earl, was in high favour with Charles I but died in 1641 at the age of 41. Leslie marched south with Charles II in 1651 and was taken prisoner at Worcester. At the Restoration, honours were showered upon him. He became president of the council [S] 1660, lord high treasurer [S] 1663, captain-general of the forces [S] 1664. In 1667, through Lauderdale's influence, he was dismissed from office but made lord chancellor [S] for life, despite his protests that he had no legal knowledge nor learning. In 1680, when the duke of York was in Scotland, Rothes was created duke [S] but died the following year, his health undermined by good living. Rothes's letters in The Lauderdale Papers (Camden Series) are idiosyncratic and ungrammatical.

J. A. Cannon

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Rothes, John Leslie, 1st duke of

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