Person Prior; Matthew (1664 - 1721); diplomat and poet Prior Matthew diplomat and poet 1664 - 1721 British Male Wimborne, Cambridgeshire, England 21 July 1664 16640721 Lord Harley's seat of Wimpole, Cambridgeshire 18 September 1721 17210918 Burial: Poets' Corner, Westminster Abbey, London

Down Hall, near Harlow, Essex (1719-death)

Diplomat; Poet Education: Westminster School; St John's College, Cambridge; BA (1787), MA (1700) Career: As a boy, did the accounts for his uncle, Samuel Prior of the Rhenish Wine House in Cannon Row; came under the patronage of Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset (FRS 1699); Fellow of St John's (1688-1721); Secretary to the Charles Berkeley, 2nd Earl Berkeley (FRS 1667), Ambassador at The Hague (1690-1697); Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King William (1691); Secretary to the Embassy at Paris (1698-1699); Under-Secretary of State (South) (1699-1700); Commissioner of Trade (1700-1707); MP for East Grinstead (1701); involved in negotiations for the Treaty of Utrecht; Plenipotentiary at Paris (1712-1714); Commissioner of Customs (1712-1714); impeached by Sir Robert Walpole and put under the custody of the Sergeant-at-Arms (1715-1717); Benefactor to St John's College, Cambridge Parents: George Prior, Joiner, of Wimborne, Dorset, and Elizabeth Known as a notable poet. Fellow 23/03/1698 34 Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax Last in 1706 list Sources: Bulloch's Roll; DNB; Hunter; Venn International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 21 Jul 1664 - 18 Sep 1721 The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 13/12/2023 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA8370 21/11/2001 Andyg Pmab 20/12/2023 RS_NET\VidaM Yes 14c13e68-0fe4-4530-9864-f4089ff847f2