Lambert, John

Lambert, John

▪ English general
born autumn 1619, Calton, West Riding, Yorkshire, Eng.
died March 1684, St. Nicholas Isle, off Plymouth, Devon
 a leading Parliamentary general during the English Civil Wars and the principal architect of the Protectorate, the form of republican government existing in England from 1653 to 1659.

      Coming from a well-to-do family of gentry, Lambert joined the Parliamentary army as a captain at the outbreak of the Civil War between King Charles I and Parliament. He first distinguished himself in encounters with the Royalists at Bradford, Yorkshire, in March 1644, and he fought bravely in the major Parliamentary victory at Marston Moor, Yorkshire, in July 1644. A major general at the age of 28, he helped Henry Ireton draw up the “Heads of the Proposals,” a draft constitution aimed at reconciling the conflicting interests of the army, Parliament, and the king.

      At the beginning of the second phase of the Civil War in 1648, Lambert was commander of the troops of northern England. He and Oliver Cromwell (Cromwell, Oliver) routed the Scottish Royalist invaders at Preston, Lancashire, in August 1648, and on March 22, 1649, Lambert captured Pontefract, Yorkshire, the last Royalist stronghold in England.

      Second in command under Cromwell during the campaigns against the Royalists in Scotland in 1650 and 1651, Lambert was also with Cromwell on Sept. 3, 1651, when he decisively defeated Charles I's son, Charles II, at Worcester in the final battle of the Civil War.

      In succeeding years Lambert played a key role in Cromwell's experimental governments. He persuaded Cromwell to dissolve the Rump Parliament in 1653, but was unhappy with Cromwell's plan for a nominated Parliament. When it failed, Lambert was responsible for drawing up the Instrument of Government under which Cromwell assumed power as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth in 1653. Lambert served on the Council of State and was Cromwell's right-hand man until, in 1657, he outspokenly opposed the proposal that Cromwell be made king. When he refused to swear allegiance to the Protector after a new constitution had been established, Cromwell deprived him of his offices but granted him a substantial annual pension.

      After Cromwell's death (September 1658) Lambert gradually returned to politics. He did not openly cooperate with the army officers who deposed Cromwell's son and successor, Richard, in May 1659, but he was one of the most powerful figures in the ensuing power struggle. Although he helped restore the Rump Parliament in May 1659, he soon broke with it and dissolved it by force. Shortly thereafter, his army was defeated by the forces of General George Monck, who marched from Scotland to reinstate the Rump. Monck proceeded to restore King Charles II to power (1660), and in June 1662 Lambert was sentenced to death for his part in the Civil War. He was granted a reprieve and spent the rest of his life in prison.

Additional Reading
William Harbutt Dawson, Cromwell's Understudy: The Life and Times of General John Lambert and the Rise and Fall of the Protectorate (1938).

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • LAMBERT, JOHN —    one of Cromwell s officers in the civil war, born in Yorkshire; served in the successive engagements during the war from that of Marston Moor onwards, and assisted at the installation of Cromwell as Protector, but declined to take the oath of… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • John Lambert (1619) — John Lambert John Lambert (* 7. September 1619 in Gallon Hall bei Kirkby Malham; † 28. März 1684 auf St. Nicholas im Plymouth Sound) war englischer Politiker und Soldat zu Zeiten des Englischen Bürgerkrieges und des Commonwealth …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Lambert (New Jersey) — John Lambert John Lambert (* 24. Februar 1746 im Hunterdon County, New Jersey; † 4. Februar 1823 in Lambertville, New Jersey) war ein US amerikanischer Politiker, der den Bundesstaat New Jersey in beiden Kammern des Kongresses vertrat und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • LAMBERT (J.) — LAMBERT JOHN (1619 1684) Issu de la gentry du Yorkshire, John Lambert reçoit une formation universitaire et juridique. Au début de la guerre civile, il est capitaine sous les ordres de Thomas Fairfax, mais, dès 1643, il est à la tête de son… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • John II of Salerno — John II (died between 994 and 998), called the Accursed, son of Lampert of Spoleto, was the count of the palace of Salerno in 980 and acting regent for Prince Pandulf II. He was pushed out with the prince by the duke of Amalfi, Manso, in 981. The …   Wikipedia

  • John Simmons — John Simmons, ca. Juli 1947 Fotografie von William P. Gottlieb …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • John Lambert — Pour les articles homonymes, voir John Lambert (homonymie). John Lambert John Lambert (1619 1684) a servi comme général dans l armée parl …   Wikipédia en Français

  • John Dalton — For other people named John Dalton, see John Dalton (disambiguation). John Dalton …   Wikipedia

  • John Napier — For other people with the same name, see John Napier (disambiguation). John Napier John Napier (1550–1617) Born …   Wikipedia

  • John Quelch (pirate) — Infobox Pirate name=John Quelch lived=1666 1704 caption=John Quelch s standard, the Flag of St. George placeofbirth=London placeofdeath=Boston allegiance=flagicon|ENGEngland serviceyears=1703 1704 base of operations=Marblehead rank=Captain… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”