GEORGE VILLIERS, 1st DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM, born on this date (d: 1628), was an English courtier, statesman, and patron of the arts. He was a favourite and self-described lover of King James VI and I. Buckingham remained at the height of royal favor for the first three years of the reign of James’s son, King Charles I, until he was assassinated.

Villiers was born in Brooksby, Leicestershire from a family of minor gentry. His ascent began notably in 1614 when, aged 21, he caught the attention of the king. Villiers’ rise was facilitated by his physical beauty, charm, and talents such as dancing and fencing, which were nurtured by his mother Mary, a widow who aimed to see her son succeed at court. His achievements include being knighted and climbing the ranks of nobility, eventually becoming the Duke of Buckingham. Villiers was the last in a succession of handsome young favorites on whom the king lavished affection and patronage. The pair were often accused of sodomy and most historians today agree the relationship was sexual in nature.  A fine series based on this story is currently streaming on Apple+TV, Mary and George, starring the sublime Julianne Moore as the conniving Mary, and the delicious Nicholas Galatzine as the Duke, her son. 

Villiers’ influence extended beyond the king’s favor; he played a significant role in political and military affairs, including the negotiation of royal marriages and leading military expeditions. His tenure as Lord High Admiral and de facto foreign minister was marked by a series of failed military campaigns, such as the ill-fated expedition to Cádiz, which damaged his reputation and public image. Buckingham’s assassination in 1628 by John Felton, a disgruntled army officer, highlighted the extent of his unpopularity among the public.