Sidney Godolpihn, earl of, an English statesman, born in Cornwall about 1635, died Sept. 5, 1712. Soon after the restoration of the monarchy he was made one of the grooms of the bedchamber to Charles II., was elected member of parliament in 1GG1, and became privy councillor in 1079. He voted for the exclusion of the duke of York from the throne in 1680, was made first commissioner of the treasury in 1684, and after the accession of James II. was retained in office as chamberlain to the queen, and became one of the chief royal advisers. He took office under William III., having become an almost indispensable part of the machinery of state, was placed at the head of the treasury, and on the accession of Queen Anne in 1702 was created lord high treasurer, being the first person who had held that office since the revolution. He was, however, led by Marlborough to doubt the stability of the government created by the revolution, and he served it for six years while at the same time sending professions of attachment and promises of service to James. In 170G he was created Viscount Rialton and earl of Godol-phin, attached himself to the whig party, and the final result of his struggle with Harley for the premiership was his sudden and rude dismissal from office in 1710. Godolphin was the most prudent and experienced of the financiers of his time. "Every government, therefore," says Macaulay, "found him a useful servant; and there was nothing in his opinions or in his character to prevent him from serving any government." He was a keen gambler and horse racer.