Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/179

* VILLIERS. l.-!'.) VILLIERS DE L'ISLE ADAM. ton School of Art and at the Royal Academy. In 1870 ho acted as war artist for The Graphic in the campaif,'ii in Servia, and in the two fol- lowing years was with the Russians in the war with Turkey. He then went to Afghanistan to report the war of 1878, aeconipanied Lord Beres- ford on a trip around the world, and was present at the hoMd)ardMient of Alexandria and at the battle of Telel-Kchir in 1882. He saw the opera- tions in the Eastern Sudan in 1884; was with Admiral Hewitt on his mission to Abyssinia; accompanied the e.xpcdition sent to relieve Khartum ; was with the Servian army in the invasion of Bulgaria in 18S(i; went to Burma in 1887 ; crossed Canada with the (iovernor-Gen- eral; and then went on a lecture tour through the United States, Canada, and the British Isles. In 1898, as special artist for liUtck and White, the New York Ilerald, and other papers, he ac- companied the Japanese army and was j)rescnt at the battle of Ping Yang and the capture of Port Arthur. In 1897 he represented the Hland- ard in the Greco-Turkish War. In the summer of the same year he was with the Egyptian ex- peditionary force, and in the following year, as the representative of the Illusf rated News and the Globe, was with Kitchener in the operations resulting in the reconquest of the Sudan. VILLIERS, George, first Duke of Bucking- ham (151)2-1(J28). The favorite of James I. and Charles I. of England. He was born August 28, 1592, and in 1014 entered the service of the Court, where at first his advance was retarded by the enmity of the powerful Earl of Somerset. After Somerset's fall Villiers rapidly rose in favor. In 1010 he received the Garter, and was created Viscount Villiers and Baron Waddon. In the January following he was created Earl of Buck- ingham, and was sworn Privy Councilor. There- after he became in succession Marijuis, Lord Ad- miral of England, Ma.ster of the King's Bench, High Steward of Westminster, and Constable of Windsor Castle. In 1020 Buckingham married Lady Katherine Manners, daughter of the Catho- lic Earl of Rutland. In 1023, while negotiations were in progress for a marriage of the Spanish Infanta with the Prince of Wales, later Charles I., Buckingham persuaded the latter to go to Madrid and press his suit in person. While on this mission he was created Duke of Buckingham, and on his return was nominated Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The negotiations proved an absolute failure, partly no doubt on account of Buckingham's arrogance, and as a result .James declared war against Spain and allied himself with France. Buckingham maintained his ascendency after Charles I. came to the throne, and the treaty for the marriage of Charles with the Princess Henrietta of France was concluded by him, but he was never after permitted to re- turn to Paris, in consequence of his audacity in making love to the French Queen, Anne of Aus- tria. For a short time Buckingham enjoyed a passing popularity, but the ill-fated expedition to Cadiz made him odious to the nation, and he was barely .saved from impeachment by the King, who di.s.solved Parliament. The alliance with France proving unsatisfactory, Buckingham pre- pared to aid the Huguenots. In 1027, with an armament of 100 sail and 7000 soldiers, Bucking- ham appeared before La Roehelle, then in posscs- VOL. XX.— 10. sion of the Huguenots, but they refusc<l him ad- mission to the harbor. His troops then made a descent on the Isle of lUii', only to return to England, <lcfcated and disgraced'. Buckingham was not discouraged and soon after prepared a second expedition to La Kochelle. He proceeded to Portsmouth for embarkation, and there was as- sassinated on August 2.3, 1028, by a discontented subaltern named Felton. Buckingham was an agreeable personality, but he lackeil all the quali- ties that go to make a statesman, and he regu- lated his policy in accordance with personal pique. Con.sult Gardiner, History of England, vols, ii.-iv. (London and New York, 1889)'. VILLIERS, George, second Duke of Bucking- ham (1028-87). An English politician. He was the second son of the first Duke of Bucking- ham, and, his elder brotlier dying while his father was still living, he succee'ded to the title on the death of his father. He 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 1050 Buckingham was given an im- portant connnand in the projected invasion of Scotland, and fought with Charles II. at Worces- ter. Later, however, he sought to make his peace with the Protector by returning secretly to Eng- land and marrying the daughter of Fairfax, the Parliamentary general. But he was arre-sled, and only released on the abdication of Richard Crom- well. When Charles II. was placed on the throne Buckingham received various minor oftices aboit the Court, but did not possess much influence until the downfall in 1607 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 he held no official position. He favored the Declaration of Indulgence of 1672, and was an opponent of the Did<e of York. Buck- ingham favored an alliance with France, but was not in the secret of the Treaty of Dover of 1070. His influence rapidly declined, and in 1073 he came to, an open rupture with Arlington, who had the support of the King. The result was that he lost the remainder of his influence. Buck- ingliam, 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, 1087. Buckingham was a patron of authors, and also wrote himself. His drama The Rehearsal, which was first performed in 1071, enjoyed considerable popularity. Con- sult: Ranke, Historij of England (Oxford, 1875) ; Burghclere, George Villiers, Second Duke of Buckingham, 162S-16S7 (London, 1903). VILLIERS, George William Frederick, Earl of Clarendon. An English statesman. See Clarendon, George William Frederick Vil- liers, Earl of. VILLIERS DE L'ISLE ADAM, ve'lySr' de Ijl a'diiN'. Phii.ii'Pe AiGisTE Mathias," Comte de (1838-89). A French author, born at Saint- Brieuc, in Brittany. To him more than to any other author belongs the honor of having begun the Symbolistic movement in French literature. He was a writer of vivid imagination and re- markable power, and he exercised considerable in- fluence upon the younger school of authors; but