Henry Vaughan (Welsh politician, born by 1586) facts for kids

Sir Henry Vaughan the elder was a Welsh politician who lived a long time ago, from about 1586 to 1660 or 1661. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) in England many times. During the English Civil War, he was an important leader for the Royalists, who supported King Charles I.

Sir Henry Vaughan: A Welsh Politician

His Family and Early Life

Henry Vaughan was born around 1586. He was the sixth son of Walter Vaughan, who lived at Golden Grove in Carmarthenshire, Wales. His mother was Mary Rice. Henry had two older brothers, John and William.

Between 1609 and 1610, Henry Vaughan married a woman named Sage. She was the daughter of John Gwyn William and had inherited land at Derwydd, also in Carmarthenshire. Henry and Sage settled down and lived on her family's estates at Derwydd.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In 1620, Henry Vaughan held an important local job as the High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire. The next year, in 1621, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Carmarthen. An MP is a person elected to represent their area in the country's main law-making body, the House of Commons.

He was elected again in 1624. The election in 1625 was a bit confusing! Henry was first chosen as MP for Carmarthen. But then, another person, Sir Francis Annesley, was also put forward. It seems Henry stepped aside for Sir Francis. However, Parliament was closed before a final decision could be made. Henry was then elected without any problems in 1626 and again in 1628. He served until 1629, when King Charles I decided to rule the country without Parliament for a while.

Fighting in the English Civil War

In April 1640, Henry Vaughan was elected as an MP again, this time for Carmarthenshire. He was also elected in November 1640 for what was known as the Long Parliament.

From November 1642, Henry started gathering soldiers in Carmarthenshire. These soldiers were to fight for the Royalist side in the English Civil War, supporting the King. His nephew, the Earl of Carbery, was in charge. King Charles I recognized Henry's loyalty and made him a knight in Oxford on January 14, 1643.

Henry became a high-ranking officer for the Royalist forces in Pembrokeshire. But in February 1644, he was defeated at a place called Pill by a Parliamentarian leader, Rowland Laugharne. Henry set up his main base in Haverfordwest. However, he left the town in March 1644. People say he mistook a stampede of cattle for an attack by enemy troops! He then moved to Carmarthen, but had to move again when that town also fell to the Parliamentarian forces a few weeks later.

Imprisonment and Later Life

After these defeats, Henry Vaughan went back to Oxford. He was captured at the Battle of Naseby on June 14, 1645. He was then taken to the House of Commons and sent to the Tower of London, a famous prison. He stayed there until October 1647, when he was moved to another prison called the Fleet Prison.

He faced fines for supporting the King, but he was in a lot of financial trouble. He said he owed a lot of money and that most of his valuable property belonged to his wife. Henry remained in prison for several years. He was not included in general pardons because of his actions during the war.

Another prisoner, Sir Francis Wortley, wrote a poem in 1647 that described Henry Vaughan:

Sir Harry Vaughan looks as grave
As any beard can make him,
Those [who] came poore prisoners to see
Do for our Patriarke take him,
Old Harry is a right true blue,
As valiant as Pendraggon,
And would be loyal to his king
Had King Charles ne'er a rag on.

Henry Vaughan was likely still a prisoner as late as 1659. However, he was also mentioned as possibly being involved in Royalist activities in Carmarthenshire in 1658. He also had some role in the 1659 elections in Carmarthen.

Henry Vaughan wrote his will on November 27, 1660, while living at Derwydd. He passed away before January 5, 1661, when a list of his belongings was made. His will was officially approved on January 22, 1661.

Henry Vaughan had three sons and seven daughters. His oldest son, John, died before him. So, his estates went to his second son, Sir Henry Vaughan the younger. This younger Henry also became an MP for Carmarthenshire after the King was restored to the throne.