Alexander Denton (Royalist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alexander Denton
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| Born | 1596  |
| Died | 1645 (aged 48–49) |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Hampden |
| Children | Edmond Denton, of Hillesden |
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| Position held | Member of the 1625 Parliament, Member of the 1626 Parliament, Member of the April 1640 Parliament |
Sir Alexander Denton (born 1596 – died 1 January 1645) was an important English politician. He served in the House of Commons, which is like a part of the government, for many years between 1625 and 1644. During the English Civil War, he was a strong supporter of the King, joining the side known as the Royalists. Today, a house at a grammar school in Buckinghamshire, called the Royal Latin School, is named after him.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Alexander Denton was the oldest son of Sir Thomas Denton and his wife Susan Temple. He was born in 1596. In 1612, he started studying at Christ Church, Oxford, a famous university.
He was knighted in 1617, which means he received the title "Sir." When his father passed away in 1633, Alexander inherited Hillesden manor, a large estate.
Political Career and the Civil War
Sir Alexander Denton began his political journey in 1624. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Wendover. An MP is a person elected to represent an area in the House of Commons.
He later became the MP for Buckingham in 1625. He was re-elected for Buckingham in April 1640 for the "Short Parliament" and again in November 1640 for the "Long Parliament." These were different periods when the Parliament met. From 1637 to 1638, he also held the important local role of High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.
Hillesden House During the War
Sir Alexander Denton was a loyal supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War. This war was a big conflict between the King and Parliament. His home, Hillesden House, became a key location during the fighting.
In January 1644, soldiers supporting Parliament took over Hillesden House. However, they were soon forced out. In early February, a Royalist officer named Colonel William Smith set up a military base at Hillesden House. He had about 260 men there to support the King.
By chance, Sir Alexander Denton was at the house when it was occupied by his family and some relatives. In early March, a large force of over 2,000 Parliamentarian soldiers arrived. These soldiers were led by famous figures like Oliver Cromwell and Samuel Luke. They surrounded the house and began a siege.
Capture and Aftermath
After a period of fighting, Colonel Smith and Sir Alexander Denton had to surrender. They were taken as prisoners to the Tower of London. Sadly, Hillesden House was destroyed during the conflict, and Sir Alexander's family lost their wealth.
Sir Alexander Denton died while still a prisoner on New Year's Day, 1645. He was buried at Hillesden a few days later.
Family Life
Sir Alexander Denton married Mary Hampden on September 3, 1617. She was a cousin of John Hampden, another important figure at the time. They had a large family with five sons and eight daughters.
One of their sons, John Denton, was killed in a battle in 1644. Only their second son, Edmund, had children. Edmund's oldest son, also named Alexander, later became an MP for Buckingham, just like his grandfather. This younger Alexander had two sons, Sir Edmund and Alexander, who also represented Buckingham in Parliament.
