ARTHUR, earl of Anglesey, and lord privy seal in the reign of King Charles II. was the son of Sir Francis Annesley, Baronet, Lord Mount-Norris, and Viscount Valentia, in Ireland; and was born at Dublin on the 10th of July 1614. He was for some time at the university of Oxford, and afterwards studied the law at Lincoln's Inn. He had a considerable share in the public transactions of the last century; for in the beginning of the civil war he sat in the parliament held at Oxford; but afterwards became reconciled to the opposite party, and was sent commissioner to Ulster, to oppose the designs of the rebel Owen Roe O'Neal. He engaged in several other affairs with great success. He was president of the council of state after the death of Oliver, and was principally concerned in bringing about the Restoration; soon after which, King Charles II. raised him to the dignity of a baron, by the title of Lord Annesley, of Newport-Pagnell, Bucks; and a short time after he was made earl of Anglesey. During that reign he was employed in some very important affairs, was made treasurer of the navy, and afterwards lord privy seal. In October 1682, his lordship was charged by one Dangerfield, in an information delivered upon oath, at the bar of the house of commons, with endeavouring to stifile evidence in relation to the Popish plot, and to promote the belief of a Presbyterian one. The uneasiness he received from this attack did not prevent his speaking his opinion freely of those matters in the house of lords, particularly in regard to the Popish plot. About the same time he answered the Lord Castlehaven's Memoirs, in which that nobleman endeavoured to paint the Irish rebellion in the lightest colours; and a sharp dispute was raised, which ended in the seal's being taken from him. He was a person of great abilities, had uncommon learning, and was well acquainted with the constitution and laws of England. He wrote, besides his Animadversions on Castlehaven's Memoirs, Memoirs, 1. The Privileges of the House of Lords and Commons stated. 2. A Discourse on the House of Lords. 3. Memoirs. 4. The History of the Troubles in Ireland, from the rebellion in 1611 till the Restoration.

5. Truth unveiled, in behalf of the Church of England;—and some other works. He died in April, 1686, in the 73rd year of his age; and was succeeded by his son James.