John Arundell (Royalist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Arundell
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Trerice House, Cornwall
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| Member of Parliament for Bodmin |
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| In office November 1640 – January 1644 (excluded) |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1613 Trerice |
| Died | 7 November 1644 (aged 31) Plymouth |
| Nationality | English |
| Occupation | Politician and soldier |
| Military service | |
| Years of service | 1642 to 1644 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | First English Civil War Siege of Plymouth |
John Arundell (born around 1613, died 1644) was an important landowner from Cornwall, England. He was a member of the English Parliament from 1640 to 1644. During the First English Civil War, he strongly supported King Charles I and the Royalist side. Sadly, he was killed in battle during the Siege of Plymouth in November 1644.
Contents
John Arundell: A Royalist in the English Civil War
His Early Life and Family
John Arundell was born in Trerice, Cornwall, around the year 1613. He was the oldest son of Sir John Arundell and his wife, Mary Cary. John had five brothers and sisters, including his younger brother Richard.
The Arundell family of Trerice was a smaller part of a larger, well-known family in Cornwall. This larger family was mostly Catholic. The wealthiest and most important branch of the Arundells lived in St Mawgan.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In November 1640, John Arundell was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Bodmin. Like many other MPs from Cornwall, he always supported the King.
In May 1641, Parliament was discussing a serious matter. They were voting on whether to punish Thomas Wentworth, the Earl of Strafford. John Arundell was one of 59 members who voted against punishing Strafford. Because of this vote, these 59 members were called "betrayers of their country."
Some of the other MPs who voted with Arundell included Sidney Godolphin, John Trevanion, and Nicholas Slanning. All of these men later died fighting for the Royalist side in the Civil War.
A Soldier in the Civil War
The exact details of John Arundell's actions at the start of the First English Civil War are not fully known. However, in January 1644, he joined the Oxford Parliament. This was a separate parliament set up by King Charles I in Oxford.
Because he joined the King's parliament, the main Parliament in Westminster removed him from his seat. They said he was "deserting the service of the House" and "adhering to that party" (meaning the King's side).
John Arundell then raised his own group of cavalry soldiers. Cavalry are soldiers who fight on horseback. His regiment fought in the West Country region of England. In November 1644, he was killed during a small fight outside the city of Plymouth.
