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Bevil Skelton (1641–1696) was a British foreign envoy and diplomat.
Probably descended from the Skeltons of Armthwaite Castle, Cumberland, Bevil Skelton began his career as a colonel in the British Army, eventually rising to the position of lieutenant-colonel of the Royal English Regiment in France from 1672 to 1674.
Secretary to King Charles II, Skelton spent many years roving between German courts in his capacity as envoy. In March 1685 he became ambassador at the Hague, but it was not, by all account, a successful posting; Skelton was rabidly pro-French, and his hatred of the Dutch was legendary. He quickly 'rendered himself the contempt of the Hollanders.'[1]
In October 1686 he was appointed envoy-extraordinary to France. It was the hope of James to make an ally of France against the Dutch, who he feared would aid William of Orange if he attempted to usurp James's crown. Louis XIV, however, was well aware of the English King's intention, and declared that, was an attempt by England made to poison France against the Dutch, 'he would act as if his own crown was attacked.'[1]
James was forced to publicly deny the charge of insincerity towards Holland, and hastened to find a scapegoat – Skelton became that man.
Recalled to England, Skelton was imprisoned in the Tower - a mere token gesture, as he was released soon after and made Lieutenant of the Tower on 26 November 1688. The Glorious Revolution, only a few weeks later, shortly deprived him of this office. He followed James into exile and continued to be one of his leading diplomats, becoming envoy to the court at Versailles and comptroller of the royal household at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Due to his long-standing Royalist connections, Skelton became a significant hate figure for Williamite supporters after the Revolution, and the subsequent Whig demonisation of him has tended to colour history's view of the man.
Gilbert Burnet condemned him as "a very weak and passionate man, who neither understands the conduct of affairs, nor can govern his tongue with any sort of temper; for as his passion carries him to fly out on all occasions, so his vanity is so little governed that he discovers all sorts of secrets, even when he can have no other design in it but to let it appear that he knows them".
Skelton was married twice; first to Simona Cary (d. 1687), daughter of Sir Ferdinando Cary and stepdaughter of Sir Thomas Blackwell, then in 1692 to Marie O'Brien (d. 1747), daughter of the 3rd Viscount Clare.
His portrait from life was engraved by Matthias van Sommeren in 1678.[2]
Referencesedit
James Granger, A biographical history of England, from the Revolution to the end of George I's reign (1806), ISBN0-548-60320-0
Notesedit
^ abJames Granger, 'Sir Bevil Skelton, 1678', A Biographical History of England, W. Richardson, 1806.
^"Skelton, Bevil" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. Cites "Noble's Continuation of Granger's Biogr. Hist. i. 159".
bevil, skelton, this, article, relies, largely, entirely, single, source, relevant, discussion, found, talk, page, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, citations, additional, sources, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, januar. This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Bevil Skelton news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2023 Bevil Skelton 1641 1696 was a British foreign envoy and diplomat Probably descended from the Skeltons of Armthwaite Castle Cumberland Bevil Skelton began his career as a colonel in the British Army eventually rising to the position of lieutenant colonel of the Royal English Regiment in France from 1672 to 1674 Secretary to King Charles II Skelton spent many years roving between German courts in his capacity as envoy In March 1685 he became ambassador at the Hague but it was not by all account a successful posting Skelton was rabidly pro French and his hatred of the Dutch was legendary He quickly rendered himself the contempt of the Hollanders 1 In October 1686 he was appointed envoy extraordinary to France It was the hope of James to make an ally of France against the Dutch who he feared would aid William of Orange if he attempted to usurp James s crown Louis XIV however was well aware of the English King s intention and declared that was an attempt by England made to poison France against the Dutch he would act as if his own crown was attacked 1 James was forced to publicly deny the charge of insincerity towards Holland and hastened to find a scapegoat Skelton became that man Recalled to England Skelton was imprisoned in the Tower a mere token gesture as he was released soon after and made Lieutenant of the Tower on 26 November 1688 The Glorious Revolution only a few weeks later shortly deprived him of this office He followed James into exile and continued to be one of his leading diplomats becoming envoy to the court at Versailles and comptroller of the royal household at Saint Germain en Laye Due to his long standing Royalist connections Skelton became a significant hate figure for Williamite supporters after the Revolution and the subsequent Whig demonisation of him has tended to colour history s view of the man Gilbert Burnet condemned him as a very weak and passionate man who neither understands the conduct of affairs nor can govern his tongue with any sort of temper for as his passion carries him to fly out on all occasions so his vanity is so little governed that he discovers all sorts of secrets even when he can have no other design in it but to let it appear that he knows them Skelton was married twice first to Simona Cary d 1687 daughter of Sir Ferdinando Cary and stepdaughter of Sir Thomas Blackwell then in 1692 to Marie O Brien d 1747 daughter of the 3rd Viscount Clare His portrait from life was engraved by Matthias van Sommeren in 1678 2 References editJames Granger A biographical history of England from the Revolution to the end of George I s reign 1806 ISBN 0 548 60320 0Notes edit a b James Granger Sir Bevil Skelton 1678 A Biographical History of England W Richardson 1806 Skelton Bevil Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Cites Noble s Continuation of Granger s Biogr Hist i 159 Diplomatic posts Preceded byThomas Chudleigh English Ambassador to the United Provinces1685 1686 Succeeded byIgnatius White Preceded bySir William Trumbull English Ambassador to France1686 1688 Succeeded byThe Lord Waldegrave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bevil Skelton amp oldid 1186782764, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
