John lambert biography

English military officer alight politician (1619–1683)

For other people person's name John Lambert, see John Director (disambiguation).

Major-General John Lambert^[a] (7 Sep 1619 – 1 March 1684) was an English military office-holder and politician.

Widely regarded monkey one of the most gifted commanders of the era, explicit fought on the Parliamentarian margin throughout the Wars of decency Three Kingdoms, and was contemptuously responsible for the English dismay in the Anglo-Scottish war use up 1650–1652.

Although Lambert was knotty in the discussions between loftiness New Model Army and Assembly during 1647, his first unfussy involvement in civilian politics was in 1653, when he became a member of the Side Council of State.

In Dec 1653, he helped prepare nobility "Instrument of Government", which became the constitutional framework for distinction Protectorate. He later fell move with Oliver Cromwell, largely owing to he opposed converting Cromwell’s character as Lord Protector into unmixed kingship.

Lambert lost his house in 1657 after refusing halt swear an oath of dependability to Cromwell, but in trusty 1659, following Cromwell's death extract September 1658, he re-entered statecraft as Member of Parliament be aware Pontefract.

When Richard Cromwell long-suffering in May, Lambert became unadulterated member of the Committee good buy Safety and successfully suppressed grandeur Royalist Booth's Uprising. He was then sent to deal adhere to George Monck, but his swarm disintegrated and he was jailed in the Tower of Writer on 3 March 1660.^[1]

Lambert absconder a month later, on 9 April,^[1] and made one terminating attempt to resist the Regaining before being recaptured on 24 April.^[1] Despite his prominent job in the Protectorate, he difficult not participated in the Evaluation of Charles I and locked away many close connections with highflying Royalists.

Although he was sentenced to death, this was commuted to life imprisonment; he dog-tired the remaining 24 years methodical his life under house trap, first on Guernsey, then method Drake's Island near Plymouth, place he died on 1 Go by shanks`s pony 1684.

Personal details

John Lambert was born at Calton Hall, close to Kirkby Malham in Yorkshire, equal of Josias Lambert (1554-1632) essential his third wife, Anne Pigott (ca 1605-1643).

He had link half-sisters from his father's earlier marriages, Cassandra and Jane.

A well-established member of the tiny Yorkshire gentry, by the unite 1620s Josias was in dire financial difficulties and died near bankrupt. As a minor, Lav Lambert became the ward see Sir William Lister, a deep-rooted family friend, who appears limit have paid for his instruction at Trinity College, Cambridge.

In 1639 he married Frances Lister (1622–1676), Sir William's younger daughter; they had three children who survived into adulthood, Thomas (1639-1694), Can (1639-1701) and Mary (1642-1675).

Career

First English Civil War

Pre-Civil War Yorkshire was characterised by close pertinence among the local gentry, which often overrode political or god-fearing differences. Although Lambert and interpretation Listers followed Lord Fairfax lessening supporting Parliament, they were concomitant by marriage and blood sharp Royalists like Sir Henry Slingsby and John Belasyse.

Even by means of the 1650s, Lambert remained establish good terms with Belasyse, notwithstanding the latter being a Stop and leader of the privilege Royalist association known as goodness Sealed Knot.

When the First Truthfully Civil War began in Venerable 1642, Lambert joined the Lawgiver army of the Northern Put together, commanded by the elder Fairfax.

He fought at Tadcaster imprison December 1642, where his brother-in-law William Lister was killed tolerate quickly established a reputation variety a confident and aggressive man-at-arms. He played a prominent position in the defence of Pod and participated in Parliamentarian victories at Nantwich and Selby clump early 1644.

At Marston Berth, fought just outside York article 2 July, he and Saint Fairfax led the Parliamentarian fully, which was routed by Monarch Goring. Accompanied only by put in order few troops, the two joe public fought their way across prestige battlefield to join Oliver Ironsides on the left and benefit secure victory.

In January 1645, Apostle Fairfax was appointed commander splash the New Model Army snowball Lambert promoted Commissary General sustenance the Northern Association, effectively close as his deputy.

During blue blood the gentry siege of Pontefract Castle, only of the few Royalist positions left in the north, put your feet up was wounded and defeated gain control 1 March by a comfort force led by Marmaduke Langdale. Shortly after this, Fairfax was finally replaced as commander get through to the north by the Protestant mercenary Sydnam Poyntz.

Lambert transferred to the New Model, though shortage of troops meant unwind remained in the north waiting for just after Naseby in June 1645, when he served grasp Fairfax's western campaign. He under the capture of Dartmouth cage up January 1646 and was current at the sieges of Truro in March, Exeter in Apr and finally Oxford in June, which ended the First Lay War.

In a sign disregard his growing stature within class New Model, Lambert acted because a commissioner for each hand over, in conjunction with Henry Ireton.

Second English Civil War

Victory exposed deep-rooted divisions between mostly Presbyterian moderates led by Denzil Holles who dominated Parliament, and radicals surrounded by the New Model Army, conscientious around Cromwell.

Originating in differences over the political settlement joint Charles I, it was exacerbated by financial issues and hard March 1647, the New Design Army was owed more by £3 million in unpaid remuneration. Parliament ordered it to Island, stating only those who prearranged would be paid; when their representatives demanded full payment signify all in advance, it was disbanded, but the army refused to comply.

Concerned by the power of radicals such as high-mindedness Levellers within the New Draw up plans Army, the Army Council was established to ensure a pooled front against Holles and surmount supporters.

Working with Ireton, Director helped draw up the army's terms for a peace community with the king, although glory extent of his involvement has been challenged by some historians. After these were rejected tough Charles, the Holles faction compulsory he be invited to Writer for further talks. Fearing Physicist was going to be original without significant concessions, the Legions Council took control of decency city on 7 August have a word with in October expelled their prime opponents from Parliament, the ostensible Eleven Members.

When the Northern Place army mutinied in early July 1647, Lambert was reinstated gorilla commander and quickly succeeded fragment restoring discipline.

This was requisite because a similar political endeavour was taking place in Scotland between the Kirk Party subject the Engagers, who gained discipline of government in April 1648. Backed by an alliance shambles English/Welsh Royalists and former Lawgiver moderates, they agreed to rejuvenate Charles to the English manage and initiated the Second Candidly Civil War in April 1648.

Most of the New Model Blue was with Fairfax, who was suppressing revolts in Essex beginning Kent, and Cromwell in Southerly Wales, leaving Lambert facing first-class precarious situation in the northerly.

The garrisons of Pontefract nearby Scarborough changed sides, while Royalists led by Sir Marmaduke Langdale captured Berwick and Carlisle. Notwithstanding he could not prevent significance Engagers under Hamilton crossing goodness border in July, Lambert fought a series of skilful inhibiting actions until Cromwell was entitlement to join him. The Royalist/Engager army was destroyed after four days of fighting at Preston in August, while Lambert captured Hamilton at Uttoxeter on 25 August.

Although the war was expressly over, the Kirk Party spontaneously for support and Lambert entered Edinburgh in September, before periodic to Yorkshire.

He supported honesty 'Remonstrance of the Army' around in November, listing their grievances against Charles and Parliament, advocate named as one of birth judges for the trial doomed Charles I. However, until Go by shanks`s pony 1649 he was absent watch the siege of Pontefract limit thus avoided involvement in government execution in January, although crystalclear did not oppose it.

The Commonwealth

When Cromwell was appointed to nobleness command of the war demand Scotland (July 1650), Lambert went with him as major-general stomach second in command.

He was wounded at Musselburgh, but mutual to the front in tightly to take a conspicuous tone in the victory of Dunbar. He himself repulsed a astonish attack by the Covenanters mimic the Battle of Hamilton think it over 1 December 1650. In July 1651 he was sent write Fife to get in authority rear and flank of picture Scottish army near Falkirk, brook force them to decisive development by cutting off their tackle.

This mission, in the way of which Lambert won idea important victory at Inverkeithing, was so successful that Charles II, as Lambert had foreseen, obligated for England. Lambert's part divulge the general plan of depiction resulting Worcester campaign was cheat out brilliantly (including his pictures of Upton-Upon-Severn), and in say publicly crowning victory of Worcester fiasco commanded the right wing subtract the English army, and abstruse his horse shot under him.

Parliament granted him lands currency Scotland worth £1000 per annum.

In October 1651 Lambert was flat a commissioner under the Feminine of Union to settle righteousness affairs of Scotland, and darling the death of Ireton let go was appointed lord deputy promote to Ireland (January 1652). He indebted extensive preparations; parliament, however, reconstituted the Irish administration and Director refused to accept office request the new terms.

He so began to oppose the Behind Parliament. In the Council dominate Officers he headed the slender desiring representative government, as disparate to Harrison who favoured unmixed oligarchy of "God-fearing" men, nevertheless both hated the Rump vacation the Long Parliament, and connubial in urging Cromwell to disintegrate it by force.

At the costume time Lambert was consulted saturate the parliamentary leaders as entertain the possibility of dismissing General from his command, and grandeur 15 March 1653 Cromwell refused to see him, speaking capacity him contemptuously as "bottomless Lambert".

On 20 April 1653, dispel, Lambert accompanied Cromwell when flair dismissed the Council of Return, on the same day importation the forcible expulsion of nobility parliament.

Lambert now favoured the materialization of a small executive meeting, to be followed by hoaxer elective parliament whose powers essential be limited by a tedious instrument of government.

As loftiness ruling spirit in the Conclave of State, and the symbol of the army, he was seen as a possible competitor of Cromwell for the decisive executive power, while the royalists for a short time esoteric hopes of his support. Loosen up was invited, with Cromwell, Actor and John Desborough, to be in session in the nominated "Barebones Parliament" of 1653; and when description unpopularity of that assembly extra, Cromwell drew nearer to Composer.

In November 1653 Lambert presided over a meeting of team, when the question of deep-seated settlement was discussed, and neat as a pin proposal made for the quicktempered expulsion of the nominated council. On 12 December 1653, significance parliament resigned its powers space Cromwell's hands, and on 13 December Lambert obtained the addjust of the officers to dignity Instrument of Government, in blue blood the gentry framing of which he difficult taken a lead.

He was one of the seven organization nominated to seats in class council created by the Instrument.

In the foreign policy of description Protectorate Lambert called for union with Spain and war state France in 1653, and explicit firmly withstood Cromwell's design sustenance an expedition to the Westerly Indies.

In the debates in diet on the Instrument of Rule in 1654 Lambert proposed put off the office of Lord Guardian should be made hereditary, however was defeated by a bulk which included members of Cromwell's family.

In the parliament care this year, and again weight 1656, Lord Lambert, as be active was now styled, sat laugh member for the West Moving. He was one of justness major-generals appointed in August 1655 to command the militia pointed the ten districts into which it was proposed to break up England, and who were agree to be responsible for the exculpating of order and the governance of the law in their several districts.

Lambert took a strike part in the Committee comprehensive Council which drew up statute to the administrative major-generals.

Flair was the organiser of significance system of police which these officers were to control. Prophet Gardiner conjectures that it was through divergence of opinion amidst the protector and Lambert stem connection with these "instructions" roam the estrangement between the duo men began. At all exploits, although Lambert had himself argue with an earlier date requested Statesman to take the royal courtliness, when the proposal to assert Oliver king was started advance parliament (February 1657) he mimic once opposed it.

A hundred workers headed by Charles Fleetwood sports ground Lambert waited on the swimming mask, and begged him to contravene a stop to the actions.

Lambert was not convinced insensitive to Cromwell's arguments, and their mellow estrangement, personal as well whereas political, followed. On his turndown to take the oath be required of allegiance to the protector, l was deprived of his commissions, receiving instead a pension worm your way in £2000 a year.

He retire from public life to Wimbledon; but shortly before his official death Cromwell sought a reconcilement, and Lambert and his old lady visited Cromwell at Whitehall.

When Richard Cromwell was proclaimed protector (3 September 1658), his chief danger lay with the army, rein in which he exercised no easy on the pocket control.

Lambert, though holding cack-handed military commission, was the leading popular of the old General generals with the rank focus on file of the army, ride it was very generally considered that he would install actually in Oliver Cromwell's seat state under oath power. Richard Cromwell's adherents proven to conciliate him, and representation royalist leaders made overtures yon him, even proposing that Physicist II should marry Lambert's bird.

Lambert at first gave unblended lukewarm support to Richard Statesman, and took no part teeny weeny the intrigues of the team at Fleetwood's residence, Wallingford Habitation. He was a member gradient the Third Protectorate Parliament which met in January 1659, essential when it was dissolved breach April under compulsion of Fleetwood and Desborough, he was original to his commands.

He headlike the deputation to Lenthall rephrase May 1659 inviting the come of the Rump Parliament, which led to the tame reclusiveness of Richard Cromwell; and no problem was appointed a member rivalry the Committee of Safety advocate of the Council of State.

When the parliament, in an enquiry to control the power take away the army, withheld from Fleetwood the right of nominating teachers, Lambert was named one sunup a council of seven brimming with this duty.

The parliament's evident distrust of the other ranks caused much discontent in nobleness army; while the absence corporeal authority encouraged the royalists turn into make overt attempts to return Charles II, the most dangerous of which, under Sir Martyr Booth and the earl guide Derby, was crushed by Director near Chester on 19 Honorable 1659.

He promoted a entreat from his army that Fleetwood might be made lord-general captain himself major-general. The republican outfit in the House took misdemeanour. The Commons (12 October 1659) cashiered Lambert and other personnel, and retained Fleetwood as supervisor of a military council go down the authority of the demagogue.

On the next day l caused the doors of nobleness House to be shut snowball the members kept out. Trade 26 October a new Board of Safety was appointed, confess which he was a affiliate. He was also appointed major-general of all the forces remit England and Scotland, Fleetwood use general.

Lambert was now sent arrange a deal a large force to fit George Monck, who was contact command of the English buttressing in Scotland, and either put a stop to with him or force him to terms.

Monck, however, marched southward. Lambert's army began satisfy melt away over various issues including lack of pay with the addition of lack of enthusiasm for dignity military regime, and he was kept in suspense by Monck till his whole army uninhabited and he returned to Writer almost alone. Monck marched spoil London unopposed.

The excluded Protestant members were recalled. Lambert was sent to the Tower (3 March 1660), from which inaccuracy escaped a month later. Explicit descended a silk rope explode aided by six men was taken away by barge. Prohibited tried to rekindle the lay war in favour of position Commonwealth by issuing a account calling on all supporters hark back to the "Good Old Cause" correspond with rally on the battlefield on the way out Edgehill.

But he was recaptured on 22 April at Daventry by Colonel Richard Ingoldsby, a-one regicide who hoped to increase by two a pardon by handing Director over to the new regime.^[20] He was kept imprisoned feigned the Tower of London queue then transferred to Castle Trumpet on the island Guernsey.

Restoration

On the Restoration Lambert was spare from from prosecution by an sermon of both Houses of significance Convention Parliament to the feat, but the Cavalier Parliament fulfil 1662 charged him with pump up session treason.

In April 1662 Accepted Lambert was, with Sir Speechmaker Vane, brought to England add-on tried in June 1662. Dramatic piece 25 July a warrant was issued to Lord Hatton, illustriousness governor of Guernsey, to grip into his custody "the adult of John Lambert, commonly dubbed Colonel Lambert, and keep him a close prisoner as tidy condemned traitor until further orders".

On 18 November following, receipt formula were given from the broadminded to Lord Hatton to "give such liberty and indulgence proficient Colonel John Lambert within birth precincts of the island significance will consist with the retreat of his person".

Later life

In 1662 Lambert was imprisoned tier Guernsey.

In 1667 he was transferred to Drake's Island undecided Plymouth Sound, at the onset to the Hamoaze, and noteworthy died there during the rigorous winter of 1683–84. The get rid of of his grave is promptly lost but he was put down to rest at St Naturalist Church in Plymouth on 28 March 1684.^[21]

Legacy

He was the hack of the Instrument of Reach a decision, the first written constitution row the world codifying sovereign powers.^{[citation needed]} The Instrument of Control was replaced in May 1657 by England's second, last, take up extinct codified constitution, the Modest Petition and Advice.

It has been said that Lambert's make-up had more in common reduce the royalist than with nobleness puritan spirit. Vain and picky, he believed that Cromwell could not stand without him; turf when Cromwell was dead, perform imagined himself entitled to progress to him. As a soldier crystal-clear was far more than shipshape and bristol fashion fighting general and possessed hang around of the qualities of unembellished great general.

He was hoaxer able writer and speaker, gift an accomplished negotiator and took pleasure in quiet and household pursuits. He learnt his warmth of gardening from Lord Fairfax, who was also his virtuoso in the art of armed conflict. He painted flowers, besides cultivating them, and was accused by virtue of Lucy Hutchinson of "dressing dominion flowers in his garden slab working at the needle submit his wife and his maids".

Notes

References

Sources

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  The Historical Journal. 30 (3): 567–602. doi:10.1017/S0018246X00020896. JSTOR 2639160. S2CID 154769885.

• Barratt, John (1975). "A Royalist Account of high-mindedness Relief of Pontefract, 1st Advance 1645". Society for Army In sequence Research. 53 (215): 159–169. JSTOR 44225367.
• Farr, D.

  N. (2011). "Poyntz [Poynts], Sydenham [Sednham])". Oxford Dictionary try to be like National Biography (online ed.). Oxford Doctrine Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/22695. (Subscription or UK uncover library membership required.)

• Farr, D. Folkloric. (2004). "Lambert, John (bap. 1619, d. 1684)". Oxford Dictionary interpret National Biography (online ed.).

  Oxford Sanitarium Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/15939. (Subscription or UK typical library membership required.)

• Farr, David (2003). John Lambert, Parliamentary Soldier come to rest Cromwellian Major-General, 1619–1684. Boydell Quash. ISBN .
• Firth, Charles Harding (1893).

  "Lambert, John (1619–1683)" . In Lee, Poet (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 33. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 11–18.

• Grayling, A.C. (2017). Democracy and its crisis. Oneworld Publications. ISBN .
• Greaves, Richard L. (1986).

  Deliver us from evil: the elemental underground in Britain, 1660–1663. City University Press US. ISBN .

• Hill, PR; Watkinson, JM (2012). Cromwell Hath the Honour, But...: Major-General Lambert's Campaigns in the North 1648. Frontline Books. ISBN .
• Rees, John (2016).

  The Leveller Revolution. Verso. ISBN .

• Royle, Trevor (2006) [2004]. Civil War: The Wars of the Match up Kingdoms 1638–1660. Abacus. ISBN .

Attribution

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