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Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1609-1674), was an English statesman and historian, minister to English Kings Charles I and Charles II, and grandfather to two English sovereigns, Queen Mary II and Queen Anne.

Educated in the law, Hyde first became involved in politics in 1640 as a member of the Short Parliament (April-May 1640). With the growing strain in the relationship between Parliament and King Charles I, Hyde became a moderate advisor and minister to the King. A Royalist, Hyde never saw open combat in the English Civil War. Instead, in 1645 he was appointed guardian to the Prince of Wales. In 1649, Charles I was convicted and executed for high treason, abolishing the monarchy and establishing the Commonwealth of England. As an advisor to the exiled King Charles II, Hyde was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1658. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Hyde was given the title of Earl of Clarendon in 1661. In 1660, Clarendon's daughter Anne was married to Charles II's son James, the Duke of York and future King James II. In 1663, charges of high treason were brought against Clarendon by George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol, in an attempt to disrupt Clarendon's influence. The charges were dismissed and Bristol was expelled from court.

Clarendon's downfall began shortly after. He was held responsible for unpopular decisions, such as the sale of Dunkirk to France. With the death of several of his allies, Parliament became determined to make Clarendon the scapegoat for the English defeat in the Anglo-Dutch War of 1665. In August 1667, Clarendon was dismissed from the chancellorship, and in October the House of Commons began impeachment proceedings against him. Although the House of Lords refused to accept the charges, Clarendon was forced to flee the country in November of 1667. Until his death on December 9, 1674 Clarendon remained in exile in France. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.

[sources: "Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon," Encyclopedia Britannica; "George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol," Encyclopedia Britannica.]