Governor of Worcester facts for kids
Governors were important leaders who looked after cities, especially during times of war. In the city of Worcester, England, these governors played a big role during the English Civil War. They were in charge of protecting the city and its people.
Contents
Worcester's Leaders During the English Civil War
During the English Civil War (1642-1651), Worcester was a very important city. Both the King's side (the Royalists) and Parliament's side (the Parliamentarians) wanted to control it. This meant that different governors were in charge at different times, depending on who controlled the city.
Who Were the Governors?
The governors were usually military commanders. Their main job was to make sure the city was safe. This included managing soldiers, building defenses, and keeping order among the citizens. They had a lot of power and responsibility.
Royalist Governors of Worcester
The Royalists supported King Charles I. Several Royalist leaders were governors of Worcester:
- Sir John Byron (September 1642): He was a commander for the Royalist army. He led the military forces in Worcester for a short time.
- Sir William Russell (1642–1643): He was a Royalist governor who held the city for a longer period.
- Colonel Gilbert Gerard (December 1643 – early 1646): He was another Royalist governor. He was in charge for a significant part of the war.
- Colonel Samuel Sandys (early 1646): He was a Royalist governor. He had also been acting governor during the Siege of Worcester (1643).
- Lord Astley: He was a Royalist governor who took over from Colonel Sandys. He was later captured and held prisoner.
- Sir Henry Washington: He was the Royalist governor during the important Siege of Worcester (1646). This siege happened at the end of the First Civil War.
Parliamentarian Governors of Worcester
The Parliamentarians supported the Parliament against the King. They also had governors in Worcester:
- Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex (September–October 1642): He was the main commander of the Parliamentarian army. His forces took control of Worcester on September 24, 1642. He stayed for about a month before moving on to the Battle of Edgehill.
- Colonel Thomas Essex (October–November 1642): He was appointed by Parliament to be the governor of Worcester.
- Major-General Massey: He was a Parliamentarian governor of the city.
