Earl of Shaftesbury is a title in the
Peerage of England. It was created in 1672 for
Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 1st Baron Ashley, a prominent politician in the
Cabal then dominating the policies of King
Charles II. He had already succeeded his father as second Baronet of Rockbourne in 1631 and been created
Baron Ashley, of Wimborne St Giles in the County of Dorset, in 1661, and he was made
Baron Cooper, of Paulett in the County of Somerset, at the same time he was given the earldom.