(1670-1742)
John Aislabie was not a garden designer by profession; he was a politician. Following his first marriage he soon entered the political scene and became a Member of Parliament and then Mayor of Ripon. Dividing his time between London and Ripon he rose through the political ranks and was promoted to the role of Chancellor of the Exchequer.

John had inherited the Studley Royal estate from his father George when he was only four years old but work on transforming the garden into a masterpiece did not take place until John’s political disgrace and retreat to Yorkshire many years later.