This book offers a glimpse into the life of the First Earl of Shaftesbury, a British politician, and philosopher. Drawing on primary sources from his family's archives, the authors reveal the intricacies of his personal and professional life. The book provides fascinating insights into the political history of Britain during the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the life of one of its most influential figures. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.