Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (April 13, 1593 – May 12, 1641) was an English statesman, a major figure in the period leading up to the English Civil War. His relation, another Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland, fought during the Civil War.

Early Parliamentary career

Wentworth entered Parliament in 1614 as Yorkshire's representative in the "Addled Parliament". He was an opponent of the policies of James I of England, confronting the king's foremost advisor and favorite, George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham; but it was not till the parliament of 1621, in which he sat for the same constituency, that he took part in debate. His position was ambivalent. He did not sympathize with the zeal of the popular party for war with Spain, but King James's denial of the rights and privileges of parliament seems to have caused him to join in the vindication of the claims of the House of Commons, and he supported the protestation which dissolved the third parliament of James.

Related Topics:
Parliament - 1614 - Addled Parliament - James I of England - George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham - 1621 - Spain - House of Commons

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1622 Wentworth's wife died, and in February 1625 he married Arabella Holles, daughter of Denzil Holles. He represented Pontefract in the parliament of 1624, but appears to have taken no active part. He expressed a wish to avoid foreign complications and "do first the business of the commonwealth."

Related Topics:
1622 - 1625 - Denzil Holles - Pontefract - 1624

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After the death of James I, Buckingham became first minister to Charles I.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the first parliament of Charles I, June 1625, Wentworth again represented Yorkshire, and showed his hostility to the proposed war with Spain by supporting a motion for an adjournment before the house proceeded to business. He opposed the demand for war subsidies made on Buckingham's behalf. After that Parliament was dissolved in November, he was made sheriff of Yorkshire, a position which excluded him from the parliament which met in 1626. However, he was not antagonistic to the king. In January 1626 he asked for the presidency of the Council of the North, and was favourably received by Buckingham. But after the dissolution of the parliament he was dismissed from the justiceship of the peace and the office of custos rotulorum of Yorkshire, which he had held since 1615, probably because he would not support the court in forcing the country to contribute money without a parliamentary grant. In 1627, he refused to contribute to the forced loan, and was imprisoned.

Related Topics:
Charles I - 1626 - Council of the North - 1615 - 1627

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~