|
The
increasing ethnic diversity of British society means it is
difficult to define what makes someone British. |
 |
Richard Cromwell
House: Commonwealth
Reign: 1658-1659
|
Richard Cromwell (October 4, 1626 – July 12, 1712) was the third son of Oliver Cromwell, and the second Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, for little over eight months, from September 3, 1658 until May 25, 1659. Richard Cromwell's enemies called him Tumbledown Dick.
Richard was born in Huntingdon on 4 October 1626, the son of Oliver Cromwell
and his wife Elizabeth. Little is known of his
|
 |
|
childhood.
Early biographers claim that he attended Felsted School in Essex. There
is no record of him attending university. In May 1647, he became a member
of Lincoln’s Inn. It is possible that he served as a captain in Thomas
Fairfax’s lifeguard during the late 1640s, but the evidence is inconclusive.
In 1649 Richard married Dorothy Maijor, daughter of Richard Maijor, a
member of the Hampshire gentry. He and his wife then moved to Maijor’s
estate at Hursley. During the 1650s they had nine children, five of which
did not survive to adulthood. Richard was named a JP for Hampshire and
sat on various county committees. During this period Richard seems to
be have been a source of concern for his father, who wrote to Richard
Maijor saying “I would have him mind and understand business, read a little
history, study the mathematics and cosmography: these are good, with subordination
to the things of God. Better than idleness, or mere outward worldly contents.
These fit for public services, for which a man is born”.
|
<<< Back |
|
|
