Oliver Cromwell (died 1655)

For his nephew the Lord Protector, see Oliver Cromwell.

Sir Oliver Cromwell (c. 1566–1655) was an English landowner, lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1589 and 1625.

Biography

Cromwell was the eldest son of Sir Henry Williams alias Cromwell of Hinchingbrooke and his wife Joan, daughter of Sir Ralph Warren, Lord Mayor of London. He matriculated from Queens' College, Cambridge at Lent 1579 and was admitted at Lincoln's Inn on 12 May 1582.^[1] He lived at Godmanchester until the death of his father.^[2]

In 1585 he was captain of musters for Huntingdonshire and at the time of the Spanish Armada he was in charge of the men raised in Huntingdonshire. He was J.P. from about 1585 but was removed in 1587 when there was a purge of JPs.^[2]

Hinchingbrooke House

In 1589, Cromwell was elected Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire. He was re-elected MP for Huntingdonshire in 1593 and in 1594 he was restored to his position as J.P. In 1597 he was re-elected MP for Huntingdonshire. He was High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire from 1598 to 1599. In 1601 he was elected MP for Huntingdonshire again. He entertained King James at Hinchingbrooke in 1603 with "the greatest feast that had ever been given to a king by a subject" and was awarded a knighthood in Order of the Bath and became a gentleman of the privy chamber. In 1604 he became attorney to Queen Anne and succeeded to the family estates of the death of his father.^[2]

He was re-elected MP for Huntingdonshire in 1604. In about 1605 he became Custos Rotulorum of Huntingdonshire. He was re-elected MP for Huntingdonshire in 1614. He was elected MP for Huntingdonshire twice more in 1624 and 1625. He had to sell many of his estates, including Hinchingbrooke, to meet debts contracted to London moneylenders.^[2] He was an ardent Royalist in the English Civil War, in contrast to his famous nephew Oliver Cromwell.^[1] His remaining estates were sequestered but were restored to him through the influence of his newphew who became the Lord Protector.^[2]

Cromwell died in 1655 and was buried at Ramsey, Cambridgeshire on 28 August.^[2]

Family

Cromwell married firstly Elizabeth Bromley, daughter of Thomas Bromley and had four sons and four daughters. He married secondly in July 1601, Anne Palavicino widow of Sir Horatio Palavicino and daughter of Giles Hoostman of Antwerp. He was the brother of Richard, Robert and Henry Cromwell.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Cromwell, Oliver in Venn, J. & J. A., Alumni Cantabrigienses, Cambridge University Press, 10 vols, 1922–1958.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} J.C.H. (1981). "CROMWELL, Oliver (?1566-1655), of Godmanchester and Hinchingbrooke, Hunts". History of Parliament (Online). http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/cromwell-oliver-1566-1655. Retrieved November 2011. 

Parliament of England
Preceded by Edward Wingfield George Walton	Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire 1589-1614 With: Edward Wingfield 1589-1593 Sir Gervase Clifton 1597-1601 Sir Robert Cotton Sir Robert Payne 1614	Succeeded by Richard Beavill Sir Robert Payne
Preceded by Richard Beavill Sir Robert Payne	Member of Parliament for Huntingdonshire 1634-1625 With: Edward Montagu	Succeeded by Edward Montagu Sir Robert Payne