Thomas Rainsborough Biography

Rainsborough emerges as the most prominent senior officer supporting the Army radicals' demand for a wider political settlement.

Rainsborough takes part as the highest-ranking officer sympathetic to the Leveller position and challenges continued negotiation with the King

Rainsborough supports the Agitators' radical position by arguing that the poorest man in England should have a voice in choosing the government he must obey

Rainsborough defends the broad franchise implied by the Agreement of the People, arguing that the poorest man in England should have a voice in choosing the government he must obey

Rainsborough argues before the Army Council that political consent should not be limited to property holders, making the franchise dispute central to the Army's constitutional debate

Rainsborough challenges the moderate settlement represented by the Heads of the Proposals, arguing that the Army should secure broader political rights rather than settle mainly with King and Parliament

Rainsborough becomes the leading senior officer sympathetic to the Levellers, arguing that the poorest man in England should have a voice in choosing the government he must obey

Rainsborough argues at the Putney Debates that political rights should not be limited to men of property

Rainsborough argues that even the poorest man in England has a life to live and should not be bound by a government to which he has not consented

Rainsborough presses the case that soldiers who risked their lives in the war should not be left without political voice in the settlement

Thomas Rainsborough is killed; he was a Member of Parliament and Leveller sympathiser who had spoken at the Putney Debates. His funeral becomes a large Leveller-led demonstration in London

Rainsborough receives naval command as Parliament confronts unrest and Royalist sympathy within sections of the fleet.

Rainsborough is ordered north to take command around the Royalist stronghold of Pontefract during renewed resistance.

Royalist raiders kill Rainsborough at Doncaster while he is serving with Parliament's northern forces.

Rainsborough is killed at Doncaster after becoming identified with the Leveller cause, and his funeral later becomes a large Leveller demonstration in London

Thomas Rainsborough is killed in Doncaster; he was a Member of Parliament and Leveller sympathiser who had spoken at the Putney Debates, and his funeral later becomes a large Leveller-led demonstration in London

Rainsborough's funeral becomes a mass Leveller demonstration in London, with supporters using sea-green ribbons as political symbols