John Pym Biography and Timeline

Birth of John Pym

Birth of John Pym, later a leading parliamentary opponent of Charles I

Role range: 1643

Birth of John Pym

Birth of John Pym

Election to Short Parliament

Pym is returned for Tavistock and prepares to lead opposition in the Commons.

Leadership of Short Parliament

Pym emerges as a leading Commons spokesman when the Short Parliament opens.

Catalogue of Grievances

Pym identifies religious innovation, arbitrary taxation and ministerial misconduct as national grievances.

Grievances before Supply

Pym argues that constitutional grievances must precede any grant of taxation.

Long Speech to Short Parliament

Pym catalogues political, financial and religious grievances before discussing supply.

Short Parliament Supply Speech

Pym delivers the central Commons argument against voting subsidies before redress.

Commons Rejects Lords Intervention

Pym opposes the Lords attempt to influence taxation proceedings in the Commons.

Petition against Dissolution

Pym urges Charles to negotiate with Scotland and continue parliamentary deliberation.

Commons Deputation to King

Pym joins efforts asking the King to delay dissolution and address grievances.

Commons Reform Programme Begins

Pym coordinates attacks on ministers, taxation and religious innovations.

Contact with Scottish Covenanters

Pym maintains discreet communication with Scottish opponents of royal religious policy.

Election to Long Parliament

Pym again represents Tavistock and assumes leadership of the Commons reform programme.

Long Parliament Strategy

Pym seeks systematic remedies for abuses associated with the King’s Personal Rule.

Grand Committee for Religion

Pym supports creation of a grand committee to examine religious grievances.

Preparation of Strafford Impeachment

Pym and his allies prepared to strike against Strafford before the Earl could act against them.

Role range: 1640-1643

Strafford Impeachment Motion

Pym moves rapidly to impeach Strafford as the principal architect of arbitrary government.

Petitions Received by Long Parliament

Pym encourages committees to hear petitions from people harmed during Personal Rule.

Triennial Act Advocacy

Pym supports statutory limits on the Crown's ability to govern without Parliament.

Opening Speech against Strafford

Pym presents Parliament's principal accusations at the opening of Strafford's trial.

Strafford Prosecution

Pym leads the parliamentary case when Strafford's public trial begins.

Introduction of Bill of Attainder

Pym introduced a bill of attainder when conviction through the impeachment process appeared uncertain.

Role range: 1640-1643

Long Parliament Continuance Bill

Pym supports statutory protection against dissolution of the Long Parliament.

Strafford Execution Aftermath

Pym's campaign removes the King's most powerful minister from government.

Root and Branch Bill

Pym supports legislation intended to abolish episcopal government in the Church of England.

Church Reform Programme

Pym connects church reform with broader safeguards against arbitrary government.

Army Plot Investigation

Pym investigates attempts to use army officers against the Long Parliament.

Tonnage and Poundage Reform

Pym supports parliamentary control over customs revenue.

Star Chamber Abolition Supported

Pym supports abolition of the prerogative court associated with arbitrary royal punishment.

Prerogative Courts Abolished

Pym supports legislation abolishing Star Chamber and related prerogative jurisdiction.

Ship Money Abolition Supported

Pym supports legislation declaring ship money unlawful without parliamentary authority.

Clerical Political Power Debate

Pym argues that bishops should not exercise coercive political power.

Response to Irish Rebellion

Pym argues that Parliament must influence any army sent to Ireland.

Grand Remonstrance Drafting

Pym circulates proposals that develop into the Grand Remonstrance against royal government.

Army for Ireland Debate

Pym demands guarantees that forces raised for Ireland cannot be used against Parliament.

Grand Remonstrance Introduced

Pym formally introduces the lengthy catalogue of grievances against royal government.

Ministerial Responsibility Proposal

Pym argues that the King should appoint counsellors trusted by Parliament.

Grand Remonstrance Passed

Pym secures passage of the Grand Remonstrance by 159 votes to 148.

Irish Army Control Debate

Pym links the Irish rebellion with Parliament's demand for influence over military command.