Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
The Earl of Strafford | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Anthony van Dyck, 1639 | |
| Lord Deputy of Ireland | |
| In office 1632–1640 | |
| Vice-admiral of Munster | |
| In office 1634–1640 | |
| Custos Rotulorum of the West Riding of Yorkshire | |
| In office 1630–1641 | |
| President, Council of the North | |
| In office 1628–1641 | |
| Member of Parliament for Yorkshire 1614–1621; 1625 | |
| In office March 1628 – July 1628 | |
| Member of Parliament for Pontefract | |
| In office January 1624 – February 1624 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 April 1593 Chancery Lane, London |
| Died | 12 May 1641 (aged 48) Tower Hill |
| Cause of death | Execution |
| Resting place | Wentworth, South Yorkshire |
| Spouses | Margaret Clifford
(m. 1611; died 1622)Arabella Holles
(m. 1625; died 1631)Elizabeth Rhodes
(m. 1632–1641) |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge |
| Signature | |
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (13 April 1593 (N.S.) – 12 May 1641), was an English statesman and a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. He served in Parliament and was a supporter of King Charles I. From 1632 to 1640 he was Lord Deputy of Ireland, where he established a strong authoritarian rule. Recalled to England, he became a leading advisor to the King, attempting to strengthen the royal position against Parliament. When Parliament condemned Lord Strafford to death, Charles reluctantly signed the death warrant and Strafford was executed. He had been advanced several times in the Peerage of England during his career, being created 1st Baron Wentworth in 1628, 1st Viscount Wentworth in late 1628 or early 1629, and, finally, 1st Earl of Strafford in January 1640. He was known as Sir Thomas Wentworth, 2nd Baronet, between 1614 and 1628.