Biography of William Temple 1st Baronet 1628-1699

In 1628 William Temple 1st Baronet was born to John Temple of Dublin [aged 28].

In 1654 William Temple 1st Baronet [aged 26] and Dorothy Osborn [aged 27] were married. Her suitors had included Thomas Osborne 1st Duke Leeds [aged 21], Henry Cromwell [aged 25] and Justinian Isham 2nd Baronet [aged 44]. Before their marriage they had conducted a clandestine epistolary relationship; her seventy-nine letters survive: British Library (ADD. MSS. 33975) - see Letters of Dorothy Osborn.

On 31st January 1666 William Temple 1st Baronet [aged 38] was created 1st Baronet Temple of Sheen in Surrey.

On 14th November 1677 William Temple 1st Baronet [aged 49] died. Baronet Temple of Sheen in Surrey extinct.

On 14th November 1677 [his father] John Temple of Dublin [aged 77] died.

John Evelyn's Diary. 27th August 1678. I took leave of the Duke [aged 50], and dined at Mr. Henry Bruncker's [aged 51], at the Abbey of Sheene [Map], formerly a monastery of Carthusians, there yet remaining one of their solitary cells with a cross. Within this ample inclosure are several pretty villas and fine gardens of the most excellent fruits, especially Sir William Temple's (lately Ambassador into Holland), and the Lord Lisle's [aged 29], son to the Earl of Leicester [aged 59], who has divers rare pictures, above all, that of Sir Brian Tuke's, by Holbein.

John Evelyn's Diary. 14th January 1682. Dined at the Bishop of Rochester's [aged 57], at the Abbey [Map], it being his marriage day, after twenty-four years. He related to me how he had been treated by Sir William Temple, foreseeing that he might be a delegate in the concern of my Baroness Ogle [aged 14] now likely come in controversy upon her marriage with Mr. Thynn [aged 34]; also how earnestly the late Earl of Danby [aged 49] [NOTE. The word 'late' suggest the Earl being dead but may refer to his downfall around 1678], Lord Treasurer, sought his friendship, and what plain and sincere advice he gave him from time to time about his miscarriages and partialities; particularly his outing Sir John Duncomb [aged 60] from being Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Sir Stephen Fox [aged 54], above all, from being Paymaster of the Army. The Treasurer's excuse and reason was, that Fox's credit was so over great with the bankers and monied men, that he could procure none but by his means, "for that reason", replied the Bishop, "I would have made him my friend, Sir Stephen being a person both honest and of credit". He told him likewise of his stateliness and difficulty of access, and several other miscarriages, and which indeed made him hated.

John Evelyn's Diary. 24th March 1688. After dinner, we went to see Sir William Temple's near to it; the most remarkable things are his orangery and gardens, where the wall-fruit-trees are most exquisitely nailed and trained, far better than I ever noted.

In 1695 [his former wife] Dorothy Osborn [aged 68] died.