Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell

Birth • Born April 25, 1599 • • Son of Robert and Elizabeth Cromwell • • Born into middle class gentry

Family • Married Elizabeth Bourchier August 22, 1620 • Had 9 children • Robert- Died while away at school • Oliver- died while serving as a Parliamentarian officer • Richard- dad’s successor • Henry- Lord Deputy of Ireland • James- Died at birth • 4 others went on to get married and have children

Early Life • Went to college at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge • Remained a yeoman or farmer until his finances were boosted • Underwent a religious conversion to an Independent style of Puritanism which he focused on in his 20’s and 30’s • One of the signers for Charles I’s death warrant 

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Parliament Relations

• Huntingdon Parliament (1628-1629) until Charles disband the government • Elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Cambridge • Short Parliament = 1640 • Long Parliament = 1640-1649 • MP of Rump Parliament • April 20, 1653 = dismissed Rump Parliament by force • Set up a short lived nominated assembly = Barebones Parliament •

Campaigns • Chosen to command English Campaign in Ireland (1649-1650) 

• Led campaign against the Scottish army (1650-1651)

Protector • After execution of Charles I, Cromwell dominated the short-lived Commonwealth of England • • Conquered Ireland and Scotland • • Became Lord Protector of England, Scotland, Ireland in December 1653 until his death in 1658 •

Military Life • Nickname = “Old Ironsides” • Armed his men with the best equipment, uniforms and horses • Also paid reasonably and quickly • Commander of the New Model Army in England • Defeated the Royalists in the English Civil War • Victorious in the English Civil war • Defeated the king in many battles • Cromwell had a few disadvantages in some battles, but he won anyway

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Death • Died September 3, 1658

• • Buried in Westminster Abbey

• • When the royalists came back to power they dug up, hung and beheaded Oliver Cromwell

Legacy • Best known for: • 1.Being a great Military and Political Leader 2.Involvement of making England into a republican commonwealth 3.Role as protector of England, Scotland and Ireland

Bibliography • Noble, Thomas, Barry Strauss, Duane Osheim, William Cohen, and David Roberts. Western Civilization. Brief. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. Print.   • "Oliver Cromwell." Wikipedia. 2009. Web. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Oliver_Cromwell. 

• • "Oliver Cromwell English General." Seize the Night. 2003. Carpenoctem, Web. 14 Oct 2009. .