Edward Harwood (English Army officer) facts for kids
Sir Edward Harwood (born around 1586, died 1632) was an English army officer. He was famous for leading soldiers in battles in the Netherlands. He was also known for his strong religious beliefs.
Life of Sir Edward Harwood
Sir Edward Harwood was born in Norfolk, England, around 1586. He started his military career very young, joining the Dutch army when he was only 13 years old. He quickly showed bravery in battle. He earned a leadership position after fighting in the Siege of Ostend.
By 1606, he was a captain. He fought in important battles like the Sluis campaign and the siege of Rheinberg. Later, around 1622 or 1623, he became a colonel. This meant he led a whole group of English soldiers in the Netherlands. He was one of the most important colonels there. Sadly, he was shot during the siege of Maastricht in 1632, where he died.
Harwood was a strong supporter of Puritanism. Puritans were a group of Protestants who wanted to make the Church of England simpler. He helped important Puritan leaders. For example, he helped William Ames get a teaching job at the University of Franeker. He also supported John Burges. Harwood was a key person who connected Puritans in England with others around the world.
Sir Edward Harwood was also involved in setting up new colonies. He signed the Second Virginia Charter in 1609, which helped create the Virginia Colony in America. He was also part of the Somers Isles Company, which settled the islands of Bermuda. He was a founding member of the Providence Island Company, which tried to set up a colony in the Caribbean.
Memorial
In 1636, friends of Sir Edward Harwood put up a special plaque to remember him. This memorial is in the Cloister Church in The Hague, where he was buried.
Works
In 1642, Sir Edward's brother, George Harwood, published a book. The book was called The Advice of Sir E. Harwood. It included a story about Sir Edward's life and death. This story was written by Hugh Peters, who was a preacher and friend of Harwood. Peters might have even been Harwood's chaplain, helping him with religious matters.
