the first Duke of Devonshire, and one of the most distinguished of British patriots, was born in 1640. In 1677, being then member for Derby, he vigorously opposed the venal measures of the court; and the following year he was one of the committee appointed to draw up articles of impeachment against the lord-treasurer Danby. In 1679, being re-elected to serve for Derby in a new parliament, Charles II. thought proper to make him a privy counsellor; but he soon withdrew from the board with his friend Lord Russell, when he found that the Popish interest prevailed. He carried up the articles of impeachment to the House of Lords against Lord Chief-justice Scroggs, for his arbitrary and illegal proceedings in the court of king's bench; and when the king declared his resolution not to sign the bill for excluding the Duke of York, afterwards James II., he moved the House of Commons that a bill might be brought in for the association of all his majesty's Protestant subjects. He also openly denounced the king's evil counsellors, and voted for an address to remove them from his presence and councils for ever. He nobly appeared at Lord Russell's trial in defence of that great man, at a time when it was scarcely more criminal to be an accomplice than a witness. The same fortitude, activity, and love of his country, animated this illustrious patriot to oppose the arbitrary proceedings of James II.; and when he saw that there was no other mode of saving the nation from impending slavery, he was the foremost in the association for inviting over the Prince of Orange, and the first nobleman who appeared in arms to receive him at his landing. He was created Duke of Devonshire in 1694 by William and Mary. His last public service was assisting in concluding the union with Scotland, for negotiating of which he had been appointed a commissioner by Queen Anne. He died in 1707, and ordered the following inscription to be put on his monument:

Williamus dux Devon, Bonorum Principum Fidelis Subditus, Inimicus et Invisus Tyrannis.