Buckingham, Duke of George Villiers

Born Aug. 28, 1592, in Brooksby; died Aug. 23, 1628, in Portsmouth. Duke, English statesman, and favorite and minister of the Stuarts James I and Charles I.

Buckingham’s activity was sharply criticized by the parliamentary opposition, which considered him the major instrument of arbitrary monarchical rule and blamed him for the vacillating external policies that led to unsuccessful wars with Spain (1625–30) and France (1627–29). Parliament repeatedly accused him of jeopardizing national interests and demanded his prosecution. He was killed by the officer Felton, whose act reflected the army’s dissatisfaction with Buckingham’s policies.