Henry Cary, 4th Viscount Falkland facts for kids

Henry Cary, 4th Viscount Falkland (born in 1634, died April 2, 1663) was an English politician. He served in the House of Commons, which is like a main part of the English Parliament, between 1659 and 1663.

Henry Cary's Early Life and Politics

Henry Cary was the son of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland. His mother was Lettice Morison. He went to school in Hayes, Middlesex. When his brother Lucius Cary passed away in 1649, Henry inherited the title of Viscount Falkland. After this, he traveled to France in 1650.

Like his father and older brother, Henry supported the King's side. This was during a time when England did not have a king, known as the Interregnum. Because of his views, the government watched his activities. However, an ambassador named William Lockhart of Lee decided Henry was not a serious danger.

Joining Parliament and Royalist Support

In 1659, Henry Cary was chosen as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire. He was part of the Third Protectorate Parliament. During this time, he disagreed with some of the new government's ideas.

Later, he sided against the army leaders in London. He was arrested for being involved in a plan to bring the King back in 1659. He was sent to the Tower of London. In February 1660, he strongly supported General George Monck. Henry and other important people from Oxfordshire signed a paper asking for a free parliament. The next month, he became a justice of the peace and helped organize the local army in Oxfordshire.

Helping the King Return

Henry Cary was elected as a Member of Parliament for both Oxford and Arundel. He chose to represent Oxford in the Convention Parliament. He was very active in this parliament. He supported the King's cause and the Church of England.

He was one of twelve members chosen to visit King Charles II in Holland. He then returned to England with the King. While King Charles was in Canterbury, Henry went back to London. He carried an important letter from the King to Parliament.

During discussions about a law called the Indemnity and Oblivion Bill, Henry took a strong stand. This law was about forgiving people for things they did during the time without a king. Henry believed that anyone who had been part of the court that judged the King should not be allowed in Parliament. He also wanted certain individuals to face punishment, though not death.

Life After the King's Return

In June 1660, soon after King Charles II returned to power, Henry Cary received new roles. He became a colonel in the army and a gentleman of the King's private staff. From then until his death in 1663, he was very active at court and in service to the King.

In 1661, he was again elected as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire. He also held several military positions. He supported the King during debates about the Militia Bill. This bill confirmed the King's power over the armed forces. However, some at court were unhappy with him. This was because he strongly supported a law called the Act of Uniformity. He did not agree with the government's idea that people with different religious views should be tolerated.

In 1661, he became a colonel in the army stationed in Dunkirk. In August 1662, he was elected to the Irish parliament for Fore. He spent some time there. In October 1662, after his army group was disbanded, he became a captain of a horse troop in Ireland. That same month, he returned to London. He continued his work on committees in the House of Commons.

Henry Cary also wrote a play called The Marriage Night. It was set in Castile and was a tragic story about revenge. The famous diarist Samuel Pepys saw it and wrote that it had "some things very good in it, but the whole together, I thought, not so."

Henry Cary died at about 29 years old. He was buried in Great Tew.

Family Life

On April 14, 1653, Henry Cary married Rachel Hungerford. She was the daughter of Anthony Hungerford from Blackbourton, Oxfordshire. They had one son, Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland (1656–1694).

After Henry died, Rachel Hungerford married two more times. One of her husbands was Sir James Hayes. Rachel died in Kent on February 24, 1718.