VILLIERS, GEORGE, second Duke of ham ( 1628-87 ) . An English politician. 11e was the second son of the first Duke of Bucking ham, and, his elder brother dying while his father was still living, he succeeded to the title on the death of his father. Ile was educated with the royal princes, in the Civil War natu rally served in the royal army, and as a result his immense estates were confiscated. In 1650 Buckingham was given an im portant conunand in the projected invasion of Scotland, and fought with Charles 11. at Worces ter. Later, however, he sought to make his peace with the Protector by returning secretly to Eng land and marrying the (laughter of Fairfax. the Parliamentary general. But he was arrested, and only released on the abdication of Richard Crom well. When Charles 11. was placed on the throne Buckingham received various minor offices about. the Court. but did not possess much influence until the downfall in 1661 of Clarendon, who had been his enemy. Bucking ham now became one of the chief advisers of Charles, and belonged to the so-called Cabal, though be held no official position. He
favored the Declaration of indulgence of 1672, and was an opponent of the Duke of York. Buck ingham favored an alliance with France, but was not in the secret of the Treaty of Dover of 1670. His influence rapidly declined, and in 1673 he came to an open rupture with Arlington, who had the support of the King. The result was that lie lost the remainder of his influence. Buck ingham, who had been one of the most licentious in a licentious age, now changed his mode of liv ing, and courted popular favor. But this proved of little avail., and he soon retired to private life. He died April 10, 1687. Buckingham was a patron of authors, and also wrote himself. llis drama The Rehearsal, which was first performed in 1671, enjoyed considerable popularity. Con sult: Ranke. History of England (Oxford, 1875) ; Burghelere, Georric: Villiers. Second nuke of Buckingham, 1628-1687 (London, 1903).