Thomas Blagge

Colonel Thomas Blagge (1613-14 November 1660) was a supporter of Charles I in the English Civil War. He came from Horningsheath, Suffolk, and was Groom of the Chamber to Charles I. From 1642 he was Governor of Wallingford Castle, and commanded a foot regiment of 1000 men. He fought against various Roundhead commanders including Lawrence Crawford and Richard Baxter. In 1646 he was the last to surrender a major English stronghold to Oliver Cromwell's forces, following a siege of the castle by Sir Thomas Fairfax. He refused to give in until he had the permission of Charles I. He was a supporter of Charles II, fighting at the battle of Worcester in 1651 and was made Governor of Yarmouth but died 6 months after the Restoration. He is buried in Westminster Abbey. His daughter Margaret Blagge (1652-1678) married politician Sidney Godolphin and was the subject of a book by John Evelyn entitled " [http://www.google.co.uk/books?id=9OMDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=Mrs+Godolphin The Life of Mrs Godolphin] ".

External links

* [http://www.earlrivers.org.uk/page.php?44 Earl Rivers Regiment Of Foote - Wallingford Castle and Sir Thomas Blagge.]

References

# Dewey, J. and Dewey, S. (1996) "Wallingford and the Civil War", Pie Powder Press
# Griffin, S. (2000) "Wallingford in the English civil war, 1642-1646", Stuart Press
# Hedges, J.K. (1881) "Wallingford History", Wm Clowes, London