Sidney Godolphin
1st Earl of Godolphin
Sidney Godolphin was the 1st Earl of Godolphin was a prominent British political figure in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was born sometime in the year 1645 to one in a long line of families from Cornwall.
Sidney Godolphin had to good fortune of becoming one of King Charles II favourites and he became a member of the monarch's royal household after the restoration of the monarchy in England. For a short time, Godolphin also held a position in the House of Commons as a representative for Helston in Cornwall.
Godolphin was a somewhat reticent man and he very rarely made his voice heard in the House of Commons. When he did find the occasion to address the assembly he often spoke only very briefly. It was therefore a bit of a surprise when Godolphin gradually acquired a stellar reputation as the House of Commons primary financial authority. He followed this accomplishment by becoming, in March of 1679, a member of the Privy Council and by the following September, he had risen to become one of chief management of affairs. Joining him in this appointment were Viscount Hyde (who would later become Earl of Rochester) and the Earl of Sunderland.
After Sunderland was dismissed from his post in 1680, Sidney Godolphin continued on in this capacity in spite of the fact that he was a key proponent for the Exclusion Bill. September of 1684 saw him accepting additional responsibilities as Baron Godolphin of Rialton as well as First Lord of the Treasury, a position wherein he replaced Rochester.
James II later ascended to the throne of England and Sidney Godolphin was made a chamberlain to the Queen Mary of Modena. He continued to be in the good graces of the King along with Sunderland and Rochester. It was around this time that Godolphin was appointed as Commissioner of the Treasury.
King James II favourable impression of him was made apparent when Godolphin was assigned by the monarch to be one of the five members of the council, which he sent to London after the arrival of the future king, William of Orange. When William later was able to assume control of the throne, Sidney Godolphin was again present, this time in the capacity of commissioner and along with Halifax and Nottingham was responsible for negotiations with William. Perhaps disappointingly for him, when William was finally crowned King of England, Godolphin was only assigned to the third seat on the Treasury.
While it is probably true that Sidney Godolphin owed much of his successful career to the four sovereign rulers that he served under, it must be noted that he was also a financial genius and he was indispensable in the many wars that England fought on foreign soil.
In spite of Godolphin's power and influence, he tended to live quite simply and was an aloof and quiet man by demeanour.
Godolphin was wedded to Margaret Blagge on May 16, 1675 and when she died, Godolphin never married again.
Sidney Godolphin died on September 15, 1712.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: RPN
Updated On: 23/04/2007
