Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds

Thomas Osborne, 1st Duke of Leeds (February 20,1631 - July 26,1712), English statesman, commonly known also by his earlier title of Earl of Danby, served in a variety of offices under Kings Charles II and William III of England.

Introduction to Public Life

Osborne was introduced to public life and to court by his neighbor in Yorkshire, George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, was elected MP for York in 1665, and gained the "first step in his future rise" by joining Buckingham in his attack on the Earl of Clarendon in 1667. In 1668 he was appointed joint treasurer of the navy with Sir Thomas Lyttelton, and subsequently sole treasurer. He succeeded Sir William Coventry as commissioner for the state treasury in 1669, and in 1673 was appointed a commissioner for the admiralty. He was created Viscount Osborne in the Scottish peerage on February 2, 1673, and a privy councillor on May 3. On June 19, on the resignation of Lord Clifford, he was appointed lord treasurer and made Baron Osborne of Kiveton and Viscount Latimer in the peerage of England, while on June 27, 1674 he was created Earl of Danby, when he surrendered his Scottish peerage of Osborne to his second son Peregrine Osborne. He was appointed the same year lord-lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and in 1677 received the Garter.

Related Topics:
George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham - MP - York - 1665 - Earl of Clarendon - 1667 - 1668 - Thomas Lyttelton - William Coventry - 1669 - 1673 - Admiralty - Viscount Osborne - February 2 - Privy council - May 3 - June 19 - Lord Clifford - England - June 27 - 1674 - Scottish - West Riding of Yorkshire - 1677 - Garter

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