Henry Arthington facts for kids

Henry Arthington (born 1615, died 19 June 1671) was an English politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a part of the government, at different times between 1646 and 1660.

Early Life and Family

Henry Arthington was born in 1615. His father was William Arthington, and his mother was Anne Tancred. Henry was the oldest son. When his father passed away in 1623, Henry took over the family estate.

Henry married Mary Fairfax on 24 May 1638. Mary was the daughter of Ferdinando Fairfax, who was the 2nd Baron Fairfax of Cameron. Henry and Mary had two sons and four daughters together.

Political Career and Roles

Henry Arthington held many important jobs in government during his life. These roles often involved managing money, property, or local defense.

Early Public Service

From 1643 to 1649, Henry was a "commissioner for assessment" in the West Riding of Yorkshire. This meant he helped collect taxes. In 1643, he also worked as a "commissioner for sequestrations," which involved managing property that had been taken by the government. By 1645, he was a commissioner for the northern association.

Member of Parliament

In 1646, Henry Arthington was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Pontefract. He served in the Long Parliament and later in the Rump Parliament.

He also helped with local defense as a "commissioner for militia" in Yorkshire in 1648. A militia was a group of citizens trained as soldiers, ready to defend their area.

Justice of the Peace

From 1650 to 1657, Henry was a J.P. for the West Riding. A Justice of the Peace is someone who helps keep law and order in a local area. He also became a J.P. for other areas like Ripon and Otley in 1654.

Later Parliamentary Roles

In 1656, Henry was elected as an MP again, this time for the West Riding in the Second Protectorate Parliament. He continued to serve as a commissioner for the militia in Yorkshire in 1659.

Role in the Restoration

Henry Arthington played a part in bringing back the monarchy (the king) to England. This event is known as the Restoration.

He worked with his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Fairfax, who was a key figure in this movement. Henry helped Bryan Fairfax deliver a secret message to George Monck, another important leader. In January 1660, Henry also took part in capturing the city of York.

After the Restoration, Henry continued his public service. In April 1660, he was elected as an MP for Ripon in the Convention Parliament. He also became a "commissioner for oyer and terminer" in July 1660, which meant he helped with legal trials. In August 1660, he became a Deputy Lieutenant for the West Riding, helping to organize the local military. By 1661, he was a lieutenant-colonel in the militia.

Henry Arthington passed away on 19 June 1671, at the age of 56. He was buried in a place called Adel.