By Sir Peter Lely.
BORN 1626, DIED 1686.
Tawny-coloured coat. Wig. Hand resting on book.
HE was the youngest brother of Sir John Coventry. Went to Queen’s College, Oxford, as gentleman-commoner, when sixteen; then travelled in foreign parts: on his return, declaring himself a loyal subject of King Charles, he was appointed secretary to the Duke of York, and also to the Admiralty. Other honours succeeded—Privy Councillor, Commissioner of the Treasury, etc.
Evelyn calls him a ‘wise and witty gentleman.’ Burnet says of him: ‘A man of great notions and eminent virtues, the best speaker in the House of Commons, and capable of leading the best Ministry, as it was once thought he was very near it, and deserved it more than all the rest did.’
Having quarrelled with the Duke of Buckingham, and a duel being in contemplation, he was forbid the Court, and retired to Minster-Lovell, near Witney, in Oxfordshire, where he led a quiet country life, refusing all offers of public appointments. He was never married, and died at Somerhill, near Tunbridge Wells, where he had gone for the benefit of the waters. He was buried at Penshurst, in the same county.
He left in his will £2000 for the relief of the French Protestants lately banished on account of their religion, who had taken refuge in England; also £3000 for the redemption of captives from Algeria.