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Lot Essay
Henry St. John was a confidant of Alexander Pope. A writer himself, he is chiefly remembered as a statesman whose fall from grace was as swift as his elevation. His success in public affairs was marred in the early years by his debauched lifestyle and the public mistreatment of his wife. However, he was skilled at political gamesmanship and relished the official roles he filled.
His success as Secretary at War from 1704 was notable, however, the recruiting problems which beset Marlborough's Spanish campaigns led to his resignation. He returned to office in 1710 as Secretary of State for the Northern Departments and it was at this time that he was created Viscount Bolingbroke, although he had expected an earldom and felt slighted by the lesser title. A Jacobite, his support of the cause would prove to be his undoing. He held great power at court during the final days of Queen Anne's reign but this ended on the latter's death. The Hanoverian accession led to a witch hunt for Jacobite supporters within parliament. Bolingbroke fled to France rather than staying to clear his name. During his time there he wrote the philosophical essays which were published after his death. He was pardoned in 1725 and returned to England, although he never recovered his estates.
He was never to hold high office again but railed against the Whig government and in particular Robert Walpole, writing for the satirical paper The Craftsman. St. John's political scheming and Jacobite sympathies led to a second exile in 1735. Although he made a number of visits to England during this time, often to stay with Alexander Pope, he did not return permanently until 1744, the year of the manufacture of the present lot. His father had died in 1742 and he was able to settle at the family house in Battersea. His later years were dogged by ill health but he continued to write. Not surprisingly he distanced himself from the Jacobite rising of 1749. He died at his house in Battersea in 1751, childless. His title and land passed to his half nephew Frederick St. John and his personal estate to his executors.
His success as Secretary at War from 1704 was notable, however, the recruiting problems which beset Marlborough's Spanish campaigns led to his resignation. He returned to office in 1710 as Secretary of State for the Northern Departments and it was at this time that he was created Viscount Bolingbroke, although he had expected an earldom and felt slighted by the lesser title. A Jacobite, his support of the cause would prove to be his undoing. He held great power at court during the final days of Queen Anne's reign but this ended on the latter's death. The Hanoverian accession led to a witch hunt for Jacobite supporters within parliament. Bolingbroke fled to France rather than staying to clear his name. During his time there he wrote the philosophical essays which were published after his death. He was pardoned in 1725 and returned to England, although he never recovered his estates.
He was never to hold high office again but railed against the Whig government and in particular Robert Walpole, writing for the satirical paper The Craftsman. St. John's political scheming and Jacobite sympathies led to a second exile in 1735. Although he made a number of visits to England during this time, often to stay with Alexander Pope, he did not return permanently until 1744, the year of the manufacture of the present lot. His father had died in 1742 and he was able to settle at the family house in Battersea. His later years were dogged by ill health but he continued to write. Not surprisingly he distanced himself from the Jacobite rising of 1749. He died at his house in Battersea in 1751, childless. His title and land passed to his half nephew Frederick St. John and his personal estate to his executors.