This is a biography of the Earl of Clarendon, a prominent figure of the 17th century, whose achievements as a politician and as a historian remain disputed. Ollard discusses his political career which helped shape the British constitution, which has lasted in essence to the present day, his legacy of the Clarendon Building and collection of paintings plus his historical and autobiographical works, "History of the Revolution", his "Life" and "Continuation of a Life". The work follows his life from his early years to the outbreak of Civil War and the Restoration to his life as Lord Chancellor and his death in 1666. Richard Ollard is also author of "Samuel Pepys".