William Lenthall Biography and Timeline

Accepts Speakership

Lenthall assumes the chair and begins presiding over the Long Parliament.

Role range: 1640-1653

Election as Speaker

The Commons elects Lenthall as Speaker at the opening of the Long Parliament.

Role range: 1640-1653

Long Parliament Chair

Lenthall begins presiding over a Commons determined to investigate Personal Rule.

Role range: 1640-1653

Triennial Act Proceedings

Lenthall presides as the Commons completes the Triennial Act legislation.

Commons Attainder Proceedings

Lenthall presides during decisive Commons proceedings against Strafford.

Continuance Act Proceedings

Lenthall oversees Commons proceedings on protection of the Long Parliament.

Ship Money Act Proceedings

Lenthall presides as the Commons completes legislation against ship money.

Grand Remonstrance Division

Lenthall presides over the division decided by eleven votes.

Militia Bill Proceedings

Lenthall presides over the Militia Bill's first Commons reading.

Speaker during Long Parliament

Lenthall presides over the Commons throughout the constitutional conflicts of 1641.

Role range: 1640-1653

Speaker Defies Royal Demand

Lenthall refuses to disclose the missing members' location without instructions from the House.

Speaker Defies Royal Demand

Lenthall refuses to reveal the Five Members' whereabouts and declares himself the servant of the House.

First Protectorate Parliament

Serves as Speaker when the First Protectorate Parliament assembles

Role range: 1654-1655 – 1654-1655

Interregnum

Lenthall presided as the restored Long Parliament dissolved itself and called elections.

Role range: 1649-1660 – 1640-1660