Thomas Wentworth Biography

Wentworth surrenders Calais after French forces overwhelm the town

Thomas Wentworth was born into a prominent Yorkshire landowning family.

Wentworth entered the Inner Temple as part of his preparation for public life.

Wentworth studied at St John's College, Cambridge, before continuing his legal education.

Wentworth received a knighthood during the early reign of James I.

Wentworth married Margaret Clifford, daughter of the Earl of Cumberland.

Wentworth sat in the short and unproductive Parliament later called the Addled Parliament.

Wentworth was first elected to the House of Commons as a Yorkshire representative.

Wentworth inherited his father's baronetcy and extensive Yorkshire estates.

Wentworth supported a cautious foreign policy and opposed costly continental warfare.

Wentworth returned to Parliament as one of Yorkshire's knights of the shire.

Wentworth entered the Commons for Pontefract during the final Parliament of James I.

Wentworth represented Yorkshire in the first Parliament summoned by Charles I.

Wentworth married Arabella Holles, sister of future parliamentary leader Denzil Holles.

The Crown appointed Wentworth sheriff, preventing him from sitting in the 1626 Parliament.

The government imprisoned Wentworth after he refused to pay the forced loan.

Wentworth refused to contribute to the forced loan imposed without parliamentary consent.

Wentworth promoted a constitutional compromise that contributed to the Petition of Right.

Wentworth was released before the opening of the 1628 Parliament.

Charles I raised Wentworth to the peerage as Baron Wentworth.

Wentworth became lord president of the Council of the North and governed northern England.

Charles I advanced Wentworth to the rank of viscount.

Wentworth joined the Privy Council and became a central supporter of royal government.

Wentworth strengthened the Council of the North and enforced royal authority across the region.

Arabella Wentworth died, leaving Wentworth with their young children.

Charles I appointed Wentworth lord deputy of Ireland.

Wentworth secured safeguards intended to prevent courtiers from undermining his Irish authority.

Wentworth married Elizabeth Rhodes before beginning his Irish administration.

Wentworth established his household and government at Dublin Castle.

Wentworth arrived in Dublin and assumed personal control of the Irish administration.

Wentworth balanced Protestant officials and Catholic members to obtain the legislation he required.

Wentworth reorganised customs, taxation, and expenditure to increase the Crown's Irish revenue.

Wentworth secured substantial subsidies intended to remove the Irish government's financial deficit.

Wentworth opened the Irish Parliament and demanded financial support for the Crown.

Wentworth pursued a plantation scheme based on disputed royal claims to land in Connacht.

Wentworth punished jurors who rejected the Crown's title claims during the Connacht inquiry.

Wentworth used military proceedings to remove Mountnorris from influence in the Irish administration.

Wentworth used Castle Chamber to discipline officials and landowners who resisted royal policy.

Wentworth improved pay, equipment, and discipline within the standing forces maintained in Ireland.

Wentworth supported efforts to restore property and income claimed by the established Church.

Wentworth encouraged linen production as an export industry that would not compete directly with English woollens.

Wentworth discouraged Irish woollen exports to protect English commercial interests.

Wentworth's government required many Ulster Scots to swear loyalty and renounce the Scottish Covenant.

Advises Charles I to open Parliament to defeat the Scots after the Berwick Treaty

Wentworth acted to prevent Scottish Presbyterian settlers from supporting the National Covenant.

Charles summoned Wentworth from Ireland to advise on the crisis with the Scottish Covenanters.

Wentworth advised Charles to summon an English Parliament to finance another campaign against Scotland.

Wentworth urged Charles to renew preparations rather than accept the Berwick settlement as final.

Wentworth received the additional title Baron Raby when he became Earl of Strafford.

Wentworth is created Earl of Strafford and elevated within the English peerage.

Strafford receives the senior title of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

Strafford returned to Ireland to obtain money and troops for the Scottish war.

Strafford secured four subsidies from the Irish Parliament for the King's military programme.

Strafford raised an Irish army intended to support Charles against the Scottish Covenanters.

Strafford urged the Short Parliament to grant supplies before debating wider political grievances.

Strafford supported continued royal action after Charles dissolved the Short Parliament.

Strafford became lieutenant general under the Earl of Northumberland for the second campaign against Scotland.

Strafford works to organise and discipline the English army assembled against Scotland.

Strafford's illness restricted his ability to organise the demoralised royal army.

Strafford attempted to restore order after the English defeat at Newburn opened northern England to Scottish occupation.

Strafford attended the Great Council of Peers convened to address the military and financial emergency.

Strafford opposed concessions that would leave the Scottish army occupying northern counties at English expense.

Strafford returns to face the hostile Long Parliament despite warnings from allies.

The Lords ordered Strafford into custody after the Commons delivered its impeachment accusation.

The Commons impeaches Strafford for high treason and attacks his conduct of government.

Strafford is committed to the Tower after the Commons presents its impeachment.

Strafford enters the Tower while the Lords consider the impeachment accusations.

Scottish commissioners submitted accusations concerning Strafford's role in the wars and his actions against Scots in Ireland.

Detailed articles supporting Strafford's impeachment are delivered to the House of Lords.

Strafford was brought from the Tower for the opening of his state trial in Westminster Hall.

Strafford's public trial for high treason begins before the Lords.

Strafford delivers a forceful defence against the parliamentary accusations.

The Commons advances a bill of attainder after difficulties proving statutory treason.

Strafford petitioned the Lords for an opportunity to answer new allegations supporting the attainder.

The Lords approve the bill of attainder against Strafford.

Strafford tells Charles that he will not obstruct assent intended to preserve public peace.

Strafford's remains are buried following his execution.

Thomas Wentworth dies by beheading following his conviction through attainder.

Strafford is executed after Parliament obtains royal assent to his attainder.

Strafford addresses the crowd before his execution on Tower Hill.

Wentworth receives command of important elements of the Royalist cavalry.

Breaks through at Brandon Hill followed by the surrender of Bristol to the Royalists