1642 4th January
Attempted Arrest of Five Members
Pym avoids arrest when Charles I enters the House of Commons seeking five leading opponents of royal policy.
English Civil War · permanent subject timeline
John Pym
Leading Parliamentarian political figure before and during the outbreak of war. This page combines historical context with 17 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database English Civil War archive.
Historical context
John Pym: overview and significance
What happened?
John Pym emerged as a leading parliamentary opponent of Charles I's policies during the crisis of 1640–42 and was one of the Five Members the king attempted to arrest.
Why was it important?
Pym was instrumental in organising parliamentary resistance, finance and alliances during the opening phase of the war before his death in 1643.
World History Database records
John Pym timeline
The records below are selected from the 1,090-record English Civil War archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1642
1642 5th March
Militia Ordinance
Pym supports Parliament's Militia Ordinance, which places county military forces under commanders approved by Parliament.
1642 5th July
Committee of Safety Appointment
Pym becomes a leading member of Parliament's Committee of Safety.
1642 5th July
Committee of Safety Established
Pym joins the committee coordinating Parliament's armies and military supplies.
1642 12th July
Resolution to Raise Parliamentary Army
Pym supports Parliament's resolution to raise an army for defence of the kingdom.
1643
1643 13th January
Peace
The King's reply to the peace petition is read dismisivly in the Guildhall
1643 September
Covenanters
The price of the alliance is a National Covenant & Solemn League signed by Pym
1643 September
National Covenant
The price of the alliance is a National Covenant & Solemn League signed by Pym
1643 September
Solemn League
The price of the alliance is a National Covenant & Solemn League signed by Pym
1643 September
Solemn League Negotiations
Pym helps secure the parliamentary alliance with Scotland that brings the Solemn League and Covenant into English war policy.
1643 September
Treaty of Covenanters
The price of the alliance is a National Covenant & Solemn League signed by Pym
1643 8th December
Death at Derby House
Pym dies at Derby House in Westminster after serving as one of Parliament's most influential wartime political leaders.
1643 9th December
Death of John Pym
Death of John Pym
1643 18th December
Death of John Pym
The only man in politics who has some control over the Scots. Death of John Pym. Allows the rise of the Independent Party
1643
Alliance
Invites the Scots Commissioners to London & agrees an alliance
1643
Budget
Leads Parliament in taking control of taxation & in raising an unprecedented exise tax
1643
Diplomacy
Invites the Scots Commissioners to London & agrees an alliance
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database.
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database English Civil War records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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