Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester facts for kids
Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester (born October 26, 1612 – died February 19, 1658) was an English soldier and nobleman. He was a key supporter of King Charles I during the English Civil War. Wilmot was known by different titles throughout his life, including Lord Wilmot and Viscount Wilmot, before becoming the Earl of Rochester. He was a brave leader who fought for the Royalist side.
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Early Life and Military Training
Henry Wilmot came from a family with a history of military service. His grandfather, Charles Wilmot, was a respected soldier in Ireland. Henry was born in 1612. He was the third son, but he was the only one still alive when his father passed away. This meant Henry inherited his father's title.
Before the English Civil War, Henry Wilmot gained valuable experience. He spent five years serving in the Dutch army. During this time, he was seriously injured at the siege of Breda in 1637. Later, he joined King Charles I for the Bishops' Wars. He served as a cavalry officer and was part of the Royal Council of War. He even led a charge at the Battle of Newburn.
In 1640, Wilmot became a Member of Parliament. He was part of a group of young politicians and officers close to Queen Henrietta Maria. This group made a plan against Parliament in 1641. Because of this, Wilmot was sent to the Tower of London and removed from Parliament.
Fighting in the English Civil War
When the First English Civil War began, Wilmot quickly joined King Charles I. By August 1642, he had gathered a group of horse soldiers for the King's army. He became the commissary-general of horse, a high-ranking position.
Key Battles and Victories
Wilmot was wounded at the Battle of Powick Bridge in September 1642. This was one of the first big fights of the war. However, he recovered quickly. A month later, he led the left side of the Royalist cavalry at the Battle of Edgehill. His troops defeated many of the Parliamentarian forces. In December, he also led the attack that captured Marlborough.
For his bravery, King Charles I rewarded Wilmot. In April 1643, he was made a lieutenant-general of horse. This meant he was directly under Prince Rupert, a famous Royalist commander. In June, he was given the title Baron Wilmot of Adderbury. The Queen, his old friend, likely helped him get these honors.
Later that year, Wilmot led a large group of cavalry to help the western Royalist army. On July 13, he defeated Sir William Waller at the Battle of Roundway Down. This victory helped the Royalists strengthen their control in the west.
A Leader in the Army
In 1644, Prince Rupert moved to a different command. Wilmot then took over as the main commander of all Royalist cavalry. He became a very important voice in military decisions. On June 29, he helped defeat Waller again at the Battle of Cropredy Bridge. During this battle, Wilmot was wounded and briefly captured.
Wilmot was very popular with the soldiers he commanded. People said he was brave, adventurous, and friendly. He was good at organizing troops during marches. His popularity and important role in the army gave him political influence.
Challenges and Exile
In June 1644, Wilmot tried to convince the King to remove two of his main advisors. He also wanted the King to march on London. However, King Charles I did not like Wilmot personally. The King refused his ideas and kept his advisors.
After this, Wilmot tried to contact the Parliamentarian commander, the Earl of Essex. He wanted to see if they could arrange peace. The King's advisors convinced Charles that Wilmot's actions were disloyal. On August 8, 1644, Wilmot was arrested. He lost all his positions and was put in prison.
Many army officers supported Wilmot. They asked the King to release him. To calm the officers, all charges against Wilmot were dropped. But he had to leave England. Wilmot went to France and joined Queen Henrietta Maria's court.
Years later, Wilmot had a disagreement with one of the King's former advisors, Lord Digby. They fought, and Wilmot was injured in the hand.
Helping King Charles II Escape
After King Charles I was executed in January 1649, Wilmot became a close helper to the new King, Charles II. Charles II trusted Wilmot greatly. After Charles II was defeated at the Battle of Worcester, Wilmot stayed with him during his escape.
The King often wore disguises, pretending to be a servant. Wilmot, however, refused to hide his identity or travel on foot. Six weeks after the battle, they both managed to escape to France. They had spent that time hiding in various places.
Life in Exile and Later Efforts
During King Charles II's time in exile, Wilmot was one of his main advisors. In 1652, Charles II made him the Earl of Rochester. Wilmot traveled to different European countries to gain support for Charles II. He visited leaders in the Holy Roman Empire, Lorraine, and Brandenburg.
In March 1655, Wilmot secretly returned to England. He led an unsuccessful attempt to start a rebellion near York. This uprising failed, and Wilmot had to flee the country again.
In April 1656, Wilmot signed an agreement with the Spanish King. This agreement created an alliance between the exiled Royalists and Spain. In 1656, Wilmot was given command of an English foot regiment in the Royalist army in Bruges. This made him the first colonel of what would become the Grenadier Guards.
The living conditions for the soldiers were difficult in the winter of 1657–58. Many became sick, including Wilmot. He died in Sluys on February 19, 1658, and was buried in Bruges.
After the King returned to power in England, Wilmot's body was moved. He was reburied in his family's church in Spelsbury, Oxfordshire. His son, John Wilmot, inherited his title. John became a famous poet and a well-known figure at King Charles II's court.
Family Life
On August 21, 1633, Henry Wilmot married Frances Morton. After Frances passed away, Wilmot married Anne Lee in 1644. Anne was the daughter of Sir John St John. She was also the widow of Sir Francis Henry Lee. Henry and Anne had a son named John, who was born on April 10, 1647. John later became the 2nd Earl of Rochester and was known for his cleverness and poetry.
