His religious and political views—he opposed the Act of Settlement of 1701 which secured the accession to the British throne for the House of Hanover—prevented him from receiving his degree from Balliol College, Oxford, or from pursuing any form of public career.
Jeho náboženské a politické názory – postavil se proti zákonu o nástupnictví z roku 1701, který zajistil vstup na britský trůn pro Hannoverskou dynastii – mu zabránily, aby získal titul na Balliolově koleji v Oxfordu nebo aby usiloval o jakoukoli veřejnou kariéru.