CLIFFORD OF CHUDLEIGH, THOMAS CLIF FORD, IST BARON (163o-1673), English lord treasurer, the son of Hugh Clifford of Ugbrook, near Exeter, was born on Aug. 1, 163o, matriculated at Exeter college in 1647, and entered the Middle Temple in 1648. He represented Totnes in the convention parliament of 166o and in the parliament of 1661, and became a steady supporter of Arlington, in opposition to the chancellor, Clarendon. On the outbreak of the Dutch war in 1664 Clifford was appointed commissioner for the care of the sick and of pris oners ; afterwards knighted and appointed ambassador to north ern Europe, he served with the fleet in 1665 and 1666, and in Oct. 1667 was one of those selected by the Commons to prepare papers concerning the naval operations. In the same year he was made controller of the household, a privy councillor and a commissioner for the treasury and in 1668 treasurer of the household.
Clifford was an ardent Roman Catholic, a supporter of the royal prerogative, and of the French alliance as a means of forcing Romanism and absolute government on the country. As one of the Cabal ministry, therefore, he co-operated zealously with the king in breaking through the Triple Alliance and in effecting an understanding with France. He was the only minis ter, besides Arlington, entrusted with the secret treaty of Dover of 167o, which he signed as well as the ostensible treaty shown to all the members of the Cabal. In 1672, during the absence of Arlington and Coventry abroad, Clifford acted as principal secretary of state, and was chiefly responsible for the "stop of the exchequer" and probably also for the attack upon the Dutch Smyrna fleet. He was appointed that year a commissioner to enquire into the settlement of Ireland. On April 22 he was raised to the peerage, and on Nov. 28, by the duke of York's interest, was made lord treasurer. This excited the jealousy of Arlington, who had always aspired to that office, and he helped to secure Clifford's downfall by his support of the Test Act of 1673. On the passing of the bill Clifford, as a Roman Catholic, followed the duke of York into retirement. His resignation caused consider able astonishment, since he had never publicly professed his re ligion, and in 1671 had even built a new Protestant chapel at his home at Ugbrook. According to Evelyn, however, his conduct was governed by a promise previously given to James. He gave up the treasuryship and his seat in the privy council in June. On July 3, 1673, he received a general pardon from the king. In August he said a last farewell to Evelyn, and in less than a month he died at Ugbrook. In Evelyn's opinion the cause of death was suicide, but his suspicions do not appear to have received any contemporary support. Clifford was one of the worst advisers of Charles II., but a sincere and consistent one. Evelyn declares him "a valiant, uncorrupt gentleman, ambitious, not covetous, generous, passionate, a most constant, sincere friend." He mar ried Elizabeth, daughter of William Martin of Lindridge, Devon shire, by whom he had 15 children, four sons and seven daughters surviving him. He was succeeded as 2nd baron by Hugh, his fifth, but eldest surviving son.
See Cambridge Modern History, vol. v. (1908).