Henry St. John

Henry St. John (1st Viscount Bolingbroke) – Life, Political Thought & Legacy

Learn about Henry St. John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke (1678–1751) — English Tory statesman, political philosopher, and propagandist. Explore his career, exile, political writings, and enduring influence.

Introduction

Henry St. John, better known by his title 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, was one of the most influential—and controversial—figures in early 18th-century British politics and political thought. Born 16 September 1678 and dying 12 December 1751, he played pivotal roles under Queen Anne, engaged with the Jacobite cause, and later shaped the development of opposition politics in the Walpole era.

He is remembered not only as a politician and courtier but also as a writer and philosopher whose ideas about liberty, party, and governance resonated well beyond his lifetime.

Early Life and Family

Henry St. John was born on 16 September 1678, probably at Lydiard Tregoze, Wiltshire, though he was baptised in Battersea, Surrey.

He was the eldest son of Sir Henry St. John, 4th Baronet (later Viscount St John) and Lady Mary Rich, daughter of Robert Rich, 3rd Earl of Warwick.

Although earlier accounts claimed that he was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, his name does not appear on their registers, and some scholars suggest he may have been educated in a Dissenting academy or privately.

In 1698–99, Bolingbroke traveled through France, Switzerland, and Italy, cultivating fluency in French and broad intellectual horizons.

He first married Frances Winchcombe in 1701. After her death, in 1720 he married Marie Claire des Champs (a French widow).

Political Career & Offices

Entry into Parliament & Early Offices

• Bolingbroke entered the House of Commons in 1701 as MP for Wootton Bassett (Wiltshire), later representing Berkshire (1710–12).

• He was appointed Secretary at War in 1704 and served through 1708.

• Under Queen Anne, he progressed to the Cabinet. He became Secretary of State for the Northern Department (1710–1713) and Secretary of State for the Southern Department (1713–1714).

• In 1712, he was raised to the peerage as Viscount Bolingbroke, entering the House of Lords.

Role in Peace Negotiations & Party Politics

Bolingbroke was instrumental in negotiating peace with France, culminating in the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), which ended British involvement in the War of the Spanish Succession.

He also sought to shape the direction of the Tory government by asserting influence over policy, sometimes clashing with colleagues like Robert Harley and the Earl of Oxford.

Dismissal, Exile & Jacobite Alignment

With the ascension of George I in 1714 and the dominance of the Whig party, Bolingbroke fell from favor. Facing impeachment and political danger, he fled to France in 1715, where he aligned himself with the Jacobite cause, serving as Secretary of State for James Edward Stuart (the “Old Pretender”).

In Parliament, an act of attainder for treason stripped him of property and civil rights.

Return and Later Opposition

By 1723, Bolingbroke obtained a pardon and was allowed to return to England, although he was never fully rehabilitated politically — he could not rejoin the House of Lords.

During the 1720s and 1730s, he became a central figure in opposition to Sir Robert Walpole’s Whig government. He wrote a series of political pamphlets, essays and letters, many appearing in The Craftsman under pseudonyms, advocating for a Country Party model and criticizing governmental corruption.

Bolingbroke also authored The Idea of a Patriot King and other works seeking to define a vision for constitutional monarchy and political virtue.

Although Walpole was eventually forced from power in 1742, Bolingbroke never regained real influence in government. In later years he largely retired from political life.

Intellectual Works & Thought

After his political setbacks, Bolingbroke devoted himself to writing and intellectual inquiry. Some key aspects of his thought include:

• Political Opposition & Party Theory: He articulated the need for a structured opposition (the “Country Party”) to check governmental power and prevent corruption, emphasizing virtue, accountability, and the public good.

• Historical & Philosophical Writings: Works such as Reflections upon Exile, Letters on the Study of History, The True Use of Retirement, and The Idea of a Patriot King reveal his reflections on governance, morality, and political order.

• Views on Religion and Deism: Although he upheld the political privileges of the Church of England, his personal views lean toward deism or skepticism of religious dogma, which was contentious in his time.

• Influence on Enlightenment & Later Thinkers: His writings and ideas influenced figures such as Benjamin Disraeli, Edmund Burke, and the American Founders (e.g. Jefferson, Adams). He also had a friendship or intellectual connection with writers like Alexander Pope, Jonathan Swift, and Voltaire.

Personality, Strengths & Critiques

Bolingbroke was renowned for his eloquence, wit, and intellect, and was a prominent figure in literary and political circles.

However, he also drew criticism for personal flaws:

• He was seen by some as ambitious, unscrupulous, and prone to political opportunism, especially in handling alliances and betrayals.

• His handling of the Jacobite cause, and subsequent reconciliation with the Hanoverian regime, led some to question his loyalty and consistency.

• Some contemporary critics saw his philosophical works as more stylish than substantive, though his rhetorical power was undoubted.

Famous or Noteworthy Quotes

Here are a few quotes attributed to Bolingbroke, reflecting his views on party, liberty, and politics:

• “To be free, not from the law, but by the law.”

• “Liberty is but little thing when compared with order.”

• “All the power which belongs to Parliament is in substance the power of the purse.”

• “The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure virtue.”

These quotes capture his approach to constitutionalism, ethics, and the balance between liberty and order.

Legacy & Influence

Bolingbroke’s reputation has undergone shifts over time:

• In his lifetime and the immediate posthumous period, his political writings fueled debate among Tories and Whigs, and his ideas contributed to evolving notions of constitutional opposition.

• In later centuries, he was revived as a precursor of modern conservative liberalism and constitutional anti-corruption discourse. Benjamin Disraeli praised him as a “founder of modern Toryism.”

• His influence crossed the Atlantic: in the American colonies, intellectuals read Bolingbroke’s works and saw parallels in their own struggles with government and corruption.

• However, his contradictions, equivocations, and ambiguous loyalty mean that modern scholars often treat him with nuance: brilliant yet flawed, rhetorician more than systematic philosopher.

Lessons from Bolingbroke’s Life

1. Eloquence can mobilize ideas
   Bolingbroke’s skill with language and pamphleteering allowed him to shape public opinion beyond formal office.

2. Opposition is a legitimate political role
   His concept of organized, principled resistance to government power remains relevant in democratic systems.

3. Principle vs. pragmatism
   His career shows the tension between political idealism and the compromises demanded by power.

4. Interplay of ideas and politics
   Bolingbroke’s life reminds us that intellectuals can influence politics—and politics shapes intellectual currents.

5. Legacy is complex
   The same works that earned him admiration also generated critique; greatness in history often carries contradictions.

Conclusion

Henry St. John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, was a towering yet controversial figure of early 18th-century Britain. His blend of political ambition, intellectual daring, and rhetorical flair made him a central actor in Tory politics, a forceful critic of Whig governance, and a lasting voice in political thought.

Though his own political fortunes waxed and waned—from court to exile, from power to pen—his ideas on liberty, party, and opposition left a mark that resonated in British and American political culture.