Anthony Ashley Cooper, 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713), was born on 26 February 1671, at Exeter House, London, the son of Lord Ashley, afterwards second Earl, and Lady Dorothy Manners, daughter of John, Earl of Rutland. He attended Winchester School, before embarking on a tour of the continent, after which he completed his studies in England. He was elected member of parliament for Poole in 1695, but was forced to retire from parliamentary life in 1698 because of the poor state of his health. In 1699 he became the Earl of Shaftesbury. Although he attended the House of Lords regularly until the death of King William, his health prevented him from taking a more active role in parliamentary politics. He left England in 1711 and settled in Naples, where he died in February 1713. Shaftesbury's literary works were printed in one volume in 1711 as the Characteristics of men, manners, opinions, times .
Michael Aynsworth was born in Dorset. He attended University College, Oxford, before becoming vicar of Cornhampton, Hampshire. He received the patronage of Shaftesbury while a young man.
The transcriber of Shaftesbury's letters is probably Roger Flexman (1708-1795), D.D., presbyterian minister.
From the guide to the Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury: Letters to Michael Aynsworth, c. 1768 (copies of originals of 1707-1710), (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)
