Committee of Safety (England) facts for kids

The Committee of Safety was a special group set up by the Parliament in England. This happened in July 1642, right before the English Civil War began. Its main job was to help Parliament manage the war against King Charles I. It also helped govern England during the time when there was no king, known as the Interregnum.

The First Committee: 1642-1644

The very first Committee of Safety had 15 members. Five were from the House of Lords, which is like an upper house of Parliament. These included important noblemen like the Earls of Essex, Holland, Northumberland, and Pembroke, plus Viscount Saye-and-Sele.

Ten members were from the House of Commons, the main elected part of Parliament. Some well-known members were John Hampden and John Pym. This committee worked until 1644. Then, Parliament and their new allies from Scotland decided to replace it with a different group called the Committee of Both Kingdoms.

A New Committee in 1647

In 1647, a new Committee of Safety was formed. This time, it was set up by a group in Parliament called the Presbyterians. They wanted to protect London and Parliament from the New Model Army. The New Model Army was a powerful army that supported Parliament, but it was marching towards London with demands the Presbyterians didn't like.

However, it soon became clear that most people in London did not support the Presbyterians. So, this committee was quickly ended, and the Presbyterian leaders left.

Committees in 1659

There were actually two different Committees of Safety set up in 1659.

First Committee of 1659

The first one started on May 7. It was created by the Rump Parliament, which was the part of Parliament still meeting after King Charles I was executed. This committee took over from Richard Cromwell's Council of State. Richard Cromwell was the son of Oliver Cromwell and had been the Lord Protector, or leader, of England.

This committee had several members, including Charles Fleetwood, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, and Sir Henry Vane the Younger. A few days later, more members joined, like John Lambert. This committee was only meant to be temporary. It was dissolved just two weeks later, on May 19, when a new Council of State was appointed.

Last Committee of 1659

The very last Committee of Safety was formed on October 26, 1659. This happened just before the time known as the English Restoration, when the king was brought back to rule England. This committee was set up by the leaders of the New Model Army.

They formed it because the Rump Parliament had tried to put the army commander, Charles Fleetwood, under the control of the speaker of Parliament. The army leaders didn't like this.

The members of this final committee included:

• Henry Vane the Younger
• Bulstrode Whitelocke
• William Sydenham
• John Lambert
• James Berry
• Lord Warriston
• Edmund Ludlow
• Richard Salwey
• John Desborough
• Charles Fleetwood
• Sir James Harrington
• William Steele
• Walter Strickland
• Henry Lawrence
• John Ireton
• Robert Tichborne
• Henry Brandrith
• Robert Thomson
• John Hewson
• John Clark
• Robert Lilburne
• Robert Bennet
• Cornelius Holland