Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey

The Earl of Jersey
Portrait by Godfrey Kneller
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
In office
1699–1700
MonarchWilliam III
Preceded byJames Vernon
Succeeded byJames Vernon
Personal details
Bornc. 1656
Kingdom of England
Died25 August, 1711 (aged 54–55)
Kingdom of Great Britain
SpouseBarbara Chiffinch
Parents
OccupationPeer, landowner, and statesman
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Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey (c. 1656 – 25 August 1711) was an English peer, courtier, and statesman of the Villiers family. He was created Baron Villiers and Viscount Villiers in 1691 and Earl of Jersey in 1697. A leading Tory politician opposed to the Whig Junto, he was made Southern Secretary in 1699.

He persuaded the young writer and diplomat Matthew Prior to abandon his former Whig allies and vote for the impeachment of his fellow Kit Cat Club member and patron Lord Halifax. Jersey replaced Halifax as Prior's patron.