John Stuart, third earl of, a British statesman of the time of the second and third Georges, was born in Scotland in 1713. He was educated at Eton, and in his youth was better known as a voluntary than as a student. He entered parliament as one of the representative peers of Scotland in 1737, and signalized himself by his determined opposition to every measure of the existing government. Soon after he attracted the favourable notice of Frederic Prince of Wales, by whom, in 1738, he was made a knight of the Thistle, and one of the lords of the bedchamber. After the death of that prince he gained a great ascendency over the mind of his son, afterwards George III. For the undue use which he was supposed to have made of his influence, he was bitterly attacked by Junius. On the accession of George III., he was sworn a member of the privy council, and made groom of the stole. In 1762, he became first lord of the treasury, an office which he only retained till the 10th of April of the following year. On that day he suddenly resigned; and the cause of his resignation is not yet clearly ascertained. (For the details of his political life, see Great Britain.) He retired to his mansion near St Albans, where he spent the remainder of his days in literary pursuits. He collected a splendid library, and formed one of the best galleries of Dutch and Flemish pictures in the kingdom. It was to

num that Dr Johnson was indebted for his pension; and by Buteshire, his influence a place was secured for Home, the author of Douglas. He died March 10, 1792.