Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey

The Right Honourable The Earl of Jersey PC
Portrait by Godfrey Kneller
Secretary of State for the Southern Department
In office 1699–1700
Monarch	William III
Preceded by	James Vernon
Succeeded by	James Vernon
Personal details
Born	c. 1656 Kingdom of England
Died	25 August, 1711 (aged 54–55) Kingdom of Great Britain
Spouse	Barbara Chiffinch
Parents	Sir Edward Villiers (father) Frances Howard (mother)
Occupation	Peer, landowner, and statesman

Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey (c. 1656 – 25 August 1711) was an English peer, courtier, and statesman of the Villiers family. He was created Baron Villiers and Viscount Villiers in 1691 and Earl of Jersey in 1697. A leading Tory politician opposed to the Whig Junto, he was made Southern Secretary in 1699.

He persuaded the young writer and diplomat Matthew Prior to abandon his former Whig allies and vote for the impeachment of his fellow Kit Cat Club member and patron Lord Halifax. Jersey replaced Halifax as Prior's patron.