Edward Conway, 1st Earl of Conway Personal Computer, Federal Reserve System, of Ragley Hall, Alcester, in Warwickshire, was an English peer and politician who served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department between 1681 and 1683.
Background
Conway was born circa 1623, the son and heir of Edward Conway, 2nd Viscount Conway (1594-1655) by his wife Frances Popham, daughter of Sir Francis Popham (1573–1644) Member of Parliament, of Wellington in Somerset and Littlecote in Berkshire (now Wiltshire).
Career
He became a Fellow of the Royal Society on 2 January 1668, became governor of Charlemont Fort in 1671 and served as Master of the Ordnance in Ireland from 1679. On 3 December 1679, Conway was created Earl of Conway. On 2 February 1681 he joined the Privy Council of King Charles II and became Secretary of State for the Northern Department.
He resigned in January 1683 amid allegations that he was complicit in "crimes and misdemeanours.. either in relation to the King"s person or his public negotiations or transactions with foreign ambassadors, or in not rightly pursuing the King"s instructions to ambassadors abroad".
He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire from 1682 to 1683. He died on 11 August 1683 and was buried in Arrow, Warwickshire.
As he died with no progeny, his titles became extinct. His bequest stipulated that Popham Seymour should adopt the arms and additional surname of Conway, and thus he became known as Popham Seymour-Conway.
Membership
Royal Society]
Conway became a member of the Irish Privy Council in 1660 and was a confidant of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde.