Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
(1641-1711), Politician; MP for several constituencies and writerLater Stuart Portraits Catalogue Entry
Sitter in 15 portraits
An influential statesman who served under Charles II, James II, William III and Queen Anne. The son of statesman Edward Hyde, he entered Parliament in 1660 and was Master of the Robes from 1662 to 1675. In 1679, he was made First Lord of the Treasury and a Privy Councillor. He later served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Hyde helped defeat Whig efforts (1678-81) to exclude from the succession the Catholic James, Duke of York (later King James II), whose first wife had been Hyde's sister Anne. In 1681, he negotiated a secret French subsidy that enabled Charles II to remain independent. Hyde was created a viscount in 1681 and an earl the following year.
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, 1685
On display at Gawthorpe Hall, Burnley
NPG 4033
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
after Willem Wissing
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1685-1686
NPG 819
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Robert White, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1680s-1690s
NPG D46332
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Isaac Beckett, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1681-1688
NPG D30818
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Isaac Beckett, published by John Smith, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, 1681-1688
NPG D11659
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Robert Williams, published by Edward Cooper, after Willem Wissing
mezzotint, (circa 1685-1687)
NPG D11962
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Robert Williams, published by Edward Cooper, after Willem Wissing
mezzotint, (circa 1685-1687)
NPG D19118
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D30820
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1741
NPG D30817
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1741
NPG D39820
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1741
NPG D39821
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1741 (1741)
NPG D42921
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Guillaume Philippe Benoist, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1757
NPG D30838
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Robert Dunkarton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, published 1815
NPG D30819
Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester
by Robert Dunkarton, published by Samuel Woodburn, after Willem Wissing
mezzotint, published 1815 (circa 1685-1687)
NPG D14124
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