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Cooper, Anthony Ashley, 1671-1713 (3rd Earl of Shaftesbury)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1671 - 1713

Biography

Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713), was born on 26 February 1671, at Exeter House, London, the son of Lord Ashley, afterwards second Earl, and Lady Dorothy Manners, daughter of John, Earl of Rutland. He attended Winchester School, before embarking on a tour of the continent, after which he completed his studies in England. He was elected member of parliament for Poole in 1695, but was forced to retire from parliamentary life in 1698 because of the poor state of his health. In 1699 he became the Earl of Shaftesbury. Although he attended the House of Lords regularly until the death of King William, his health prevented him from taking a more active role in parliamentary politics. He left England in 1711 and settled in Naples, where he died in February 1713. Shaftesbury's literary works were printed in one volume in 1711 as the Characteristics of men, manners, opinions, times. Michael Aynsworth was born in Dorset. He attended University College, Oxford, before becoming vicar of Cornhampton, Hampshire. He received the patronage of Shaftesbury while a young man. The transcriber of Shaftesbury's letters is probably Roger Flexman (1708-1795), D.D., presbyterian minister.

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

 Fonds

Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury: Letters to Michael Aynsworth

 Fonds
Reference Code: GBR/0012/MS Add.6093
Scope and Contents

Transcribed by R. Flexman, 48 folios: (fo. 1) former class mark in pencil; (fo. 1v) note of sale; (fo. 2) title; (fo. 2v) list of contents; (fo. 3) R. Flexman: introduction; copies of letters, 25 February 1707 - 10 July 1710; (fo. 40v) notes on the letters.

Dates: 1707-1710 (Transcribed circa 1768)
Conditions Governing Access: Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).