View source for James Bertie 1st Earl of Abingdon

James Bertie, 1st Earl of Abingdon, was a prominent English Tory politician during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688, defecting from King James II to support William III, leading 50 horsemen to join William's forces. After the revolution, he continued to hold important positions, including Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and Justice in Eyre south of the River Trent.

Despite his involvement in the revolution, Bertie maintained Tory principles and faced challenges under the Whig-dominated government, eventually being dismissed from his offices in 1697 due to political conflicts. He was known for his local political influence in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire, and his legacy includes the naming of Abingdon Island in the Galapagos Islands after him.

Bertie married twice, first to Eleanora Lee and then to Catherine Chamberlayne, and had children from his first marriage. He died on May 22, 1699, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Montagu Bertie. His death was lamented in an eclogue written by Robert Gould.