born April 25, 1628, London, Eng.
died Jan. 27, 1699, Moor Park, Surrey
British statesman.
As ambassador to The Hague (166870, 167479), he formulated England's pro-Dutch foreign policy and arranged the marriage between William of Orange and Princess Mary of England (later William III and Mary II ). After retiring from politics in 1681, he wrote numerous essays that were collected for publication by his secretary, Jonathan Swift . He also wrote the acclaimed Observations upon the United Provinces (1673).