Here is a brief list of names of the revolutionary period – which I would like to call a gazetteer but cannot. Do not shout at me – it is a work of progress and will be updated!
Here is access to a dynamic Google sheets version
To download the pdf version you can do so here:British Revolutionary Biographies 09-09-22
| Known As… | Surname | Christian name | Titles | Birth | Death | Brief Bio | Political Affiliation | Religious Affiliation | Social Status | Kingdom | |
| Baillie | Robert | 1602 | 1662 | As a minister submitted unwillingly to Charles reforms Become propogandist for Covenanter cause From 1640 commissioner in London & Westminster Assembly Resolutioner in 1648 |
Moderate Covenanter | Covenanter | Merchant Minister |
Scotland | |||
| Argyll | Campbell | Archibald | Lord Lorne Earl of Argyll (1638) Marquess of Argyll (1641) |
1607 | 1661 | Head of Clan Cambell Initially a Privy Councillor for the king By 1638 moved to the Covenanters, and by 1640 became the effective leader of the Radical Covenanters Anti Engager, Whiggamore & supported Commonwealth in 1650s |
Radical Covenanter | Covenanter | Peer | Scotland | |
| Loudon | Campbell | John | Earl of Loudon | 1598 | 1662 | Early opponent of Charles I in 1637 and organiser of ‘Supplicants’ and of the ‘Tables’ Frequently part of commissions to English parliament At battles Dunbar and Worcester, part of Glencairn’s highland revolt, submitted to Moncke 1653 |
Covenanter | Covenanter | Peer | Scotland | |
| Glencairn | Cunningham | William | Earl of Glencairn | 1610 | 1664 | Chief of clan Cunningham Privy Councillor from 1641 Engager Led 1653-4 uprising against Cromwell |
Royalist | Protestant Episcopalian | Peer | Scotland | |
| Elphinstone | William | Lord Balmerino (1613) | 1649 | Voted against the 5 Articles of Perth Led a petition against Charles I religious refprms, celebrated trial in 1634 Author of National Covenant, commissioner to the English and Charles I Anti Engager |
Radical Covenanter | Covenanter | Peer | Scotland | |||
| Montrose | Graham | James | Earl of Montrose (1626) Marquess of Montrose (1644) Lord Lieutenant of Scotland (1644) |
1612 | 1650 | Became a Covenanter in 1638 By 1641 had moved to support the king ‘Year of Victories’ with MacColla 1644-5 Exiled 1646, returned & executed 1650 |
Royalist | Covenanter | Peer | Scotland | |
| Hamilton | Hamilton | James | Lord Arran Marquess of Hamilton (1625) Duke of Hamilton (1643) |
1606 | 1649 | Advisor to Charles I from 1628 in England Charles I’s chief minister in Scotland from 1638 Imprison by Charles, but restored to lead the Engagement from 1647, defeated at Preston |
Royalist | Protestant Episcopalian | Peer | Scotland | |
| Lanark | Hamilton | William | Earl of Lanark (1639) Duke of Hamilton (1649) |
1616 | 1651 | Brother to the 1st Duke of Hamilton Established at Charles’ court & English MP Moderate Covenanter 1643-6 Agreed Engagement at Carisbroke with Charles Fled to Holland 1648, died at battle of Worcester |
Royalist | Covenanter | Peer | Scotland | |
| Known As… | Surname | Christian name | Titles | Birth | Death | Brief Bio | Political Affiliation | Religious Affiliation | Social Status | Kingdom | |
| Henderson | Alexander | 1583 | 1646 | Co-author of the National Covenanter Correspondant with English parliament and Westminster Assembly; & treaty of Uxbridge with the king |
Covenanter | Covenanter | Yeoman | Scotland | |||
| Jonston | Archibald | Lord Wariston | 1611 | 1633 | Co-author of the National Covenant Member of Westminster Assembly Remonstrant & supporter of the Commonwealth |
Covenanter | Covenanter | Merchant Lawyer |
Scotland | ||
| Leven | Leslie | Alexander | Earl of Leven (1641) | 1580 | 1661 | Fought in the Thirty Years War 1605-1637 1639 chose the Covenanter cause Commanded Covenanter army 1644-1647 Captured 1651 |
Covenanter | Covenanter | Laird | Scotland | |
| Leslie | David | Earl of Newark (1661) | 1600 | 1682 | Employed ib Swedish service in 30 Year War 1630 -1640 Returned to Covenanter army & led army in England; Anti Engager in 1647 Defeated by Cromwell at Dunbar 1650 |
Covenanter | Covenanter | Laird/Peer | Scotland | ||
| MacColla | MacColla | Alasdair | ‘Destroyer of houses’ | 1610 | 1647 | Born on Colonsay, into the Clan MacDonald. Fought in Ireland in the 1641 revolt for Randal MacDonnell, Earl of Antrim; involved in Portna Massacre Reputed inventer of Highland Charge Fought with Montrose in the Highlands 1643-6 Killed in Ireland at Knocknanuss 1647 |
Royalist | Catholic | Clansman | Scotland Ireland |
|
| Munro | Munro | George | 1602 | 1693 | Fought in 30 Years war Scotting commaner in Ireland defeated at Benburb 1646 Engager Resisted Cromwell, took part in Glencairn uprising Served under Charles II |
Covenanter Engager |
Covenanter | Laird | Scotland | ||
| Traquair | Stewart | John | Baron Stewart (1628) Earl of Traquair (1633) Lord High Treasurer (1636-1641) |
1599 | 1659 | Became a prominent politician by 1620s Leading king’s representative in 1639, declared enemy to religion in 1644 Engager, captured by English in 1648 |
Royalist | Protestant Episcopalian | Peer | Scotland | |
| Known As… | Surname | Christian name | Titles | Birth | Death | Brief Bio | Political Affiliation | Religious Affiliation | Social Status | Kingdom | Irish Grouping |
| Ormonde | Butler | James | Viscount Thurles (1619) Earl of Ormond (1633) Marquess of Ormonde (1642) Duke of Ormonde (1682) |
1610 | 1688 | Born (and died) in England Friend of Buckingham, fought at La Rochelle Supported Wentworth as Lord Lieutenant Irish royal army Commander Vs Rebellion Made Lord Lieutenant in 1642 Defeated at Rathmines 1649 Exile in France 1649-1660 Re-instated as Lord Lieutenant in 1662 |
Royalist | Anglican | Peer | Ireland | Old English |
| Antrim | MacDonnell | Randal | 2nd Earl of Antrim (1636) | 1609 | 1683 | Benefited from the Ulster Plantations Feud with Cambells in Scotland; suggested plans to support king Vs Covenanters Ket his head down during 1642 Rebellion Feudal overlord to MacColla; sent men to Highlands in 1644 Served Cromwell; pardoned at Restoration |
Royalist | Catholic | Peer | Ireland | Gaelic Irish |
| O’Neill | Phelim | 1604 | 1653 | Studied law in England One of the origimal 1641 plotters Fought under Owen Roe O’Neill Defeated in 1650; went into hiding Executed under Cromwell in 1653 |
Confederate Royalist | Catholic | Gentry | Ireland | Gaelic Irish | ||
| Preston | Thomas | Viscount Tara (1650) | 1585 | 1655 | Fought for Spanish in the 30 Year’s War Returned to Ireland after 1641 revolt, fought as commander for Confederates Defeated at Duggan’s Hill, 1647 Fled Ireland 1652 |
Confederate Royalist | Catholic | Gentry | Ireland | Old English | |
| O’Neill | Owen Roe | 1585 | 1649 | Fought for Spain Vs Dutch and in 30 Year’s War Returned after 1641 revolt, commanded Cinfederate forces in Ulster Reformation Catholic, supported Papal Nuncio Rinuccini Defeated Munro at Benburb 1646 |
Confederate | Catholic | Clansman | Ireland | Gaelic Irish | ||
| Known As… | Surname | Christian name | Titles | Birth | Death | Brief Bio | Political Affiliation | Religious Affiliation | Social Status | Kingdom | |
| Dorchester | Carleton | Dudley | Baron 1626 Viscount Dorchester 1628 |
1573 | 1632 | MP from 1604; supporter of the royalist line though to 1632; Diplomat in Venice and Dutch Republic in 1610s and 1620s Privy Council and Principal Secretary of State in 1628 supported personal rule, and Buckingham. Charles said of him ‘ever brought me my own sense in my own words’. |
Royalist | Puritan | Knight | England & Wales | |
| Cooke | John | Knight 1624 | 1563 | 1644 | Competent and Successful Naval administrator MP from 1621 Secretary of State 1625-1640, then retired Supporter of Royal policies and Buckingham |
Royalist | Episcopalian Protestant | Knight | England & Wales | ||
| Cottingham | Francis | Baronet 1623 Baron 1631 |
1579 | 1652 | Charles I secretary as PoW; clashed with Buckingham; Pro-Spanish. 1629 C of Exchequer King’s Treasurer in the CW, exile 1646. Clarendon described him as a good-humoured and entertaining schemer—‘he left behind a greater esteem of his parts than love of his person’ |
Royalist | Crypto Catholic | Baronet | England & Wales | ||
| Culpepper | John | Baron Culpepper 1644 | 1600 | 1660 | MP in Short Parliament; spoke Vs Monopolies & supporrted Strafford impeachment. Supported episcopy, drove him to king’s side by 1642; Chancellor of Exchequer & Privy Council; Master of the Rolls 1643 Wanted king to ally with Scots Abroad from 1645; fell out with Rupert |
Royalist | Protestant Episcopalian |
Knight | England & Wales | ||
| Essex | Devereux | Robert | Earl of Essex | 1591 | 1646 | Orphaned, married Frances Howard agred 15, humiliated by her affair with Carr and divorce of 1613. Served in the Rhineland for protestants armies 1619-1624; part of Cadiz expedition 1625 Attended parliaments 1621-9, pursued Buckingham, supported Petition of Right 1628 A supporter of Pym in 1641; Captain General of Parliamentary armies 1642-1644 Leader of English presbyterian faction in parliament, supporting accomodation with Scots |
Parliament | Puritan, Presbyterian | Peer | ||
| Digby | John | Earl of Bristol | 1580 | 1653 | Ambassador to Spain 1610-1618, and 1622-4 during Charles & Buckingham’s pursuit of the Spanish Match. Fell out with Buckinghman, imprisoned on return to England Digby fought his improsonment; Charles drew back from Star Chamber Prosecution for fear of what woud emerge against Buckingham. Forced to re-nstate Digby to House of Lords Digby tried to broker compromise over petition of right South to dissaude Charles from Bishops Wars, but supported royal cause Banished by parliament 1646, died in France 1653 |
Royalist | Episcopalian Protestant | Peer | |||
| Eliot | John | 1592 | 1632 | Educated at Oxford & Inns of Court MP from 1614, eloquent orator; Anti Spanish, for enfocement of penal Cathoic laws; 1626 Leader of the Popular Party in Parliament; from client to enemy of Buckingham Refused to pay forced loan led Petition of Right with Edward Coke; held Speaker in his Chair 1629; arrested, refused to recant, died in prison |
Parliament | Puritan | Knight | England & Wales | |||
| Saye & Sele | Fiennes | William | Viscount Saye & Sele 1624 | 1582 | 1662 | A leader of opposition to the court from 1626, fefusing Forced Loan, supported Petition of Right in HoL. Colonial ventures in Americas & Providence Is Leading puritan worked with Pym to oppose Charles I in 1630s and 1640s Refused oath to fight for king in 1639, Formed regiment in wars; supported army in parliament, but opposed to king’s execution & retired from public life |
Parliament | Puritan | Peer | ||
| Carlisle | Hay | Lucy | Countess of Carlisle 1622 | 1599 | 1660 | Daughter of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland Married Scottish earl James Hay 1617 Courtier allied with Buckingham til 1625, built relationship with Queen from 1627 Established influential salon for courtiers that allowed to be be an influential political player Lands in Ireland & allied with Wentworth 1630s 1641 cultivated links with Pym, & then earls of Holland and Essex and Denzil Holles Imprisoned 1650-2 |
Parliament | Episcopalian Protestant | Peer | England & Wales | |
| Pembroke | Herbert | William | Earl of Pembroke | 1580 | 1630 | Anti Spanish faction on Privy Council. Chamberlain 1615-1625. Patriotic faction under James I, early patron of Buckingham with whom subsequently was a rival; Anti Spanish faction on Privy Council | Royalist | Puritan | Peer | England & Wales | |
| Holles | Denzil | Baron 1616 Earl 1624 |
1598 | 1680 | MP from 1624; held Speaker in Chair in 1629 in support of John Eliot Reluctant to go to war in 1643; One of the Five Members Vcharles tried to arrest minated Derby House Committee from 1647 (successor to committee of Two Kingdoms) One of Eleven members exciled, and then exiled again by Pride’s Purge 1648 Returned 1654 under amnesty from Cromwell |
Parliament | Presbyterian | Peer | England & Wales | ||
| Clarendon | Hyde | Edward | Earl of Clarendon 1661 | 1609 | 1674 | MP from 1640, initially supported Popular Party; Lead King’s party from 1641m despite objectung arrest of 5 knights. King’s PC & Chancellor from 1643; King’s chief negotiator; exile in 1645; Chief Minister of Charles II (1652-60); impeached 1667. Wrote History of the Great Rebellion | Constitutional Royalist | Protestant Episcopalian |
Gentleman | England & Wales | |
| Jermyn | Henry | Baron Jermyn 1643 Earl of St Albans 1660 |
1605 | 1684 | Influential Courtier to Charlers, fierce royalist MP in 1620s parliaments Involved in Army Plot 1641; fled to France Governor of Jersey; Secretary to the Queen; tried to persuade Charles to ally with Scots |
Royalist | Protestant | Knight | England & Wales | ||
| Laud | William | Bishop of St David’s 1621 Dean of Chapel Royal & Bishop of Bath & Wells 1626 Bishop of London 1628 Archbishop of Canterbury 1633 |
1573 | 1645 | Close friend of Buckingham Unusually strong belief in divinity of Bishop’s authority, suspicion & fear of influnce of puritans. Supported more ceremonial obersvance such as positioning of church altar; enforced trough courts, prosecution of Pyrnne Urged vigorous implementation of BCP in Scotland, supported rights of the crown Impeached 1640; executed 1645 |
Royalist | Protestant Episcopalian |
Cleric | England & Wales | ||
| Pym | John | 1584 | 1643 | Credited as the first person to acquire a national reputation through his career in parliament (Russell). Born into an old familyfrom Somerset, minor gentry. Oxford and Middle Temple education, established in Hampshire through 1620s. POuritan and virulent anti Catholic. Not a natural orator, but carried weight through his utter conviction, integrity, and clever parliamentary manager. Arrested by James after 1621 parliament; organised opposition to Arminians, Forced Loan, pursued Buckingham Leader of the opposition in 1640&, worked with the Scots to organise Solemn League. |
Parliament | Presbyterian | Gentleman | ||||
| Holland | Rich | Henry | Earl of Holland | 1590 | 1649 | Younger brother of Earl of Warwick; close friend to Charles and Buckingham, player at French court! Refusal to attend King at York 1642 showed lack of trust in Charles; may have been negotiating with Covenanters Defected to King from Parliament, May 1643 Rpoyalist in 2nd CW, captured July 1648; executed 1649 |
Constitutional Royalist | Puritan | Peer | England & Wales | |
| Warwick | Rich | Robert | Earl of Warwick | 1587 | 1658 | Member of Virginia, Providence Island and New England companies MP 1604,1611, 1614; power base in Essex; resisted Forest laws, forced loan, ship mone. Consistent promoter of puritan cause. Associated with John Pym from 1640, one of 12 petitioners, led oppotion to Strafford in Lords Army & Naval leader during wars for parliament. Intimately connected with Cromwell as Lord Protector |
Parliament | Puritan | Peer | England & Wales | |
| Dorset | Sackville | Edward | Earl of Dorset 1609 | 1591 | 1652 | Fought on the continent including White Mountain in 1621. MP for Sussex. Privy Councillor from 1626 and Chamberlain to Henrietta Maria; opponent of Buckingham as part ofthe ‘Protestant Interest’ with George Abbot. Able speaker and moderate politician, enthusiast for personal rule and forced loan. Ship Money defaulter but fought for king 1642-1649 | Royalist | Episcopalian Protestant | Peer | England & Wales | |
| Selden | John | 1584 | 1654 | Acknowledged Scholar of English history and Judaism. Lawyer. MP in Charles’ reign, defended Edmund Hampden in the Five Knights Case. Supported the peition of Right Part of the Long Parliament, 1643 Westminster Assembly, |
Parliament | Episcopalian Protestant | Gentleman | ||||
| Sydny | Algernon | 1622 | 1683 | Fought in Ireland against Rebels (1641-3) & then England (Cavalry Commander NMA) for parliament. Son of Earl of Leicester. Refused to participate in trial of the King.Became Repubican & political theorist, appointed to Council of State 1652, but opposed Protectorate. Opposed Restoration & fked to continent 1660, returned 1677. Whig opposition, executed for treason from Rye House Plot | Parliament | Protestant Episcopalian |
Peer | England & Wales | |||
| Strafford | Wentworth | Thomas | Barn Wentworth 1628 Earl of Strafford 1640 |
1593 | 1641 | MP for Yorkshire from 1615; initially supported parliament’s ‘ancient & undoubted right’ in 1621; imprisoned for non payment of forced loan 1627. Supported king from 1628, Member of PC 1629, Deputy of Ireland 1632 Recalled to England 1639; chief adviser to king. Impeached 1640 & executed 1641 |
Royalist | Protestant Episcopalian |
Knight | England & Wales | |
| Strafford | Wentworth | Thomas | Baron Wentworth 1628 Viscount Wentworth 1628 President of the North 1628 Lord Deouty of Ireland 1632-9 Earl of Strafford 1640 |
1593 | 1641 | Educated at Cambrdige and Inner Temple MP for Yorkshire from 1615, supported popular party; excluded from 1626, imprisoned for non payment of Forced Loan. Recruited by Richard Weston 1628; unpopular though energetic period of rule in Ireland From 1639 chief advisor to the king, advocated for Short parliament, impeached and attainded, executed 1641 |
Royalist | Episcopalian Protestant | Knight/ Peer | England & Wales | |
| Portland | Weston | Richard | Baron Weston 1628 Earl of Portland 1633 |
1577 | 1635 | MP from 1601; Diplomat for James I; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1621; Crypto Catholic, Pro Spanish; Treasurer 1628. Architect of the financial structure of the Personal Rule | Royalist | Crypto Catholic | Knight | England & Wales | |
| Williams | John | Bishop of Lincoln 1621-1641 Archbishop of York 1641-46 |
Welsh clergyman & advisor to James I. Lord Keeper of the Seal 1621-5. Dismissed by Charles I, poursued by Laud imprisoned in 1636-40; steered middle path between Arminians & Puritans. Supported impeachments of Strafford and Laud | Parliament | Episcopalian Protestant | Peer | England & Wales |
