Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury

Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury (3 March 1583 – 5 August 1648) was an English soldier, diplomat, historian, poet, and religious philosopher. Born at Eyton-on-Severn, Shropshire, he was the eldest son of Richard Herbert and Magdalen Newport. He studied at University College, Oxford, and married his cousin Mary. He began his political career in Parliament, representing Montgomeryshire and Merioneth. As a soldier, Herbert served in the Low Countries under the Prince of Orange, distinguishing himself in the capture of Juliers. His diplomatic career was most active in Paris, where he aimed to arrange a marriage between Charles, Prince of Wales, and Henrietta Maria. He was granted an Irish peerage as Baron Herbert of Castle Island in 1624 and an English barony in 1629. During the English Civil War, he adopted a neutral stance and retired to Montgomery Castle, which he eventually surrendered to Parliament. Herbert is most renowned for his philosophical work, particularly his treatise *De Veritate*, which established him as the "father of English Deism". This work distinguished truth from revelation and other forms of knowledge. His other significant works include *De religione gentilium*, a pioneering work on comparative religion, and *Expeditio Buckinghami ducis*, a defense of the Duke of Buckingham's actions. Herbert also produced poetry, showing the influence of John Donne, and his autobiography offers a vivid account of his life. He died in London in 1648.