TEMPLE, SIR WILLIAM, an Eng lish statesman; born in London, in 1628; was educated at Emmanuel College, Cam bridge. He afterward passed six years in France, Holland, Flanders, and Ger many. On his return (1654), not choos ing to accept office under Cromwell, he occupied himself in the study of history and philosophy. After the Restoration (1660) he was nominated one of the com missioners from the Irish Parliament to the king. On the breaking out of the Dutch War (1665) he was employed in a mission to the Bishop of Munster, who offered to attack the Dutch, and in the following year was appointed resident at Brussels, and received the honor of a baronetcy. In conjunction with DeWitt he concluded the treaty between Eng land, Holland, and Sweden (Triple Al liance, 1668), the result being to oblige France to restore her conquests in the Netherlands. He also attended, as am bassador extraordinary, when peace was concluded between France and Spain at Aix-la-Chapelle (1668), and subsequent ly residing at The Hague as ambassador, became familiar with the Prince of Orange, afterward William III. Recalled
in 1669, Sir William remained in retire ment at Sheen till 1674, when he was again ambassador to the States-General, and engaged in the Congress of Nime guen, by which a general pacification was latterly effected, 1679. He was instru mental in promoting the marriage of the Prince of Orange with Mary, eldest daughter of the Duke of York (James II., 1677). Shortly after his return he was elected to represent the University of Cambridge in Parliament. In 1681 he retired from public life altogether. Swift was an inmate of his house for some time. His Memoirs and Letters are espe cially interesting to the student of his tory. His Miscellanies consist of essays on various subjects: "Gardening," "The Cure of the Gout," "Ancient and Modern Learning," "Health and Long Life," "Poems and Translations," etc. He died in Moor Park, Surrey, Jan. 27, 1699.