VV(5) - Godolphine (2)

[David Morris]

http://www.bartleby.com/65/go/Godolphi.html

"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. "


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