In 1679, England experienced a period of intense political conflict known as the Exclusion Crisis, during which Parliament sought to exclude James, Duke of York (the future James II), from the line of succession because of his Catholic faith. The year was marked by multiple parliamentary sessions, legislative actions, and heightened tensions between the Crown and Parliament.
Political Context and Key Events
| Date | Event | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| January 8 | The Earl of Shaftesbury (Anthony Ashley Cooper) presented the Petition of the People to King Charles II, calling for the exclusion of the Duke of York. | Initiated a organized movement demanding a Protestant succession. |
| February 12 | The First Exclusion Bill was introduced in the House of Commons. | Sought to bar James from inheriting the throne; it faced strong opposition in the House of Lords. |
| March 7 | The Habeas Corpus Act received Royal Assent. | Strengthened the legal principle that a person could not be detained without trial, a landmark in English law. |
| March 30 | Parliament was prorogued by Charles II, ending the first session of the 1679 Parliament. | The King aimed to delay further debate on the exclusion issue. |
| April 4 | The Second Exclusion Bill was introduced upon reconvening of Parliament. | Renewed efforts to bar James, leading to heightened political confrontation. |
| May 27 | The Exclusion Bill was defeated in the House of Lords after a prolonged debate. | Demonstrated the limits of parliamentary power over royal succession matters. |
| July 21 | Charles II dissolved Parliament, initiating a period of royal prerogative without a sitting Commons. | Temporarily halted the legislative push for exclusion. |
| September 7 | The Third Exclusion Bill was presented in the new Parliament (the “Habeas Corpus Parliament”). | Continued attempts at exclusion despite previous defeats. |
| October 27 | The Third Exclusion Bill was again rejected by the Lords, and the Parliament was dissolved in December. | Marked the end of the 1679 parliamentary sessions focused on exclusion. |
Legislation and Governance
- Habeas Corpus Act 1679: Consolidated earlier statutes and affirmed the right of individuals to challenge unlawful detention. It remains a cornerstone of English common law.
- Test Act (1662) enforcement: In 1679, the Test Act continued to require public officials to take Anglican communion, reinforcing Protestant dominance in government positions.
Notable Figures
- King Charles II (reigned 1660–1685) – Monarch during the crisis, opposed exclusion of his brother James.
- James, Duke of York (later James II) – Catholic heir whose succession prompted the exclusion movement.
- Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury – Leader of the Whig faction advocating exclusion.
- Lord Danby (Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby) – Royalist statesman who supported the King’s position against exclusion.
- John Locke – While not yet an influential political philosopher, his early writings were shaped by the political debates of this period.
Social and Cultural Context
- The Popish Plot (1678), a fabricated anti-Catholic conspiracy, continued to fuel anti-Catholic sentiment throughout 1679, influencing public opinion and parliamentary actions.
- Religious tension between Anglicans, Catholics, and dissenters remained high, affecting both politics and everyday life.
Births
- John Byrom (9 November 1679) – Future poet and inventor of a system of shorthand.
- George Frideric Handel (born 23 February 1685; note: not 1679) – No major cultural figures born in England in 1679 of wide historical note have been recorded in major encyclopedic sources.
Deaths
- Sir Thomas Browne (c. 1658–1679) – Physician and author, died in February 1679; remembered for works such as Religio Medici.
- Edward Sheldon (circa 1620–1679) – Noted translator of religious texts, died in 1679.
Overall Impact
The events of 1679 deepened the division between the emerging Whig and Tory political factions, setting the stage for further constitutional struggles in the 1680s, culminating in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The legislative achievements, especially the Habeas Corpus Act, had lasting influence on the development of civil liberties in England and later constitutional traditions worldwide.
