John Chudleigh (MP for Lostwithiel) facts for kids
John Chudleigh (born around 1584, died around 1634) was an important English sea captain and a member of Parliament. He came from Stretchleigh, a place in Ermington, Devon. John Chudleigh was known as a privateer, which means he was a private ship owner allowed by the government to attack enemy ships. He was also a knight and a nobleman, and he represented Lostwithiel in Parliament.
Contents
Early Life and Family
John Chudleigh was the son of another nobleman, also named John Chidley, who was a privateer too. His mother was Elizabeth, whose father was George Speake. The Chudleigh family was very old and well-known, with a long history in England. One of their earliest important family members was James de Chudleigh, who lived around the 1400s.
His family was often involved in local government. They held the important job of Sheriff of Devon five times. They also had several family members who became part of Parliament. John Chudleigh was the brother of Sir George Chudleigh, 1st Baronet, who was also a notable figure.
A Life at Sea
John Chudleigh started his career at sea in 1617. He bought a ship called the Flying Joan for 350 pounds. He then changed its name to the Flying Chudleigh.
Joining Walter Raleigh's Expedition
In 1617, Chudleigh joined his relative, Walter Raleigh, on a trip to Venezuela. They were looking for a rumored treasure mine in a place called Guiana. John Chudleigh did not join the attack on the Spanish town of St. Thomas. Instead, he stayed with Raleigh, who was following orders from King James I not to fight the Spanish.
The Spanish successfully defended their town. Chudleigh did get some treasure from the trip. However, his ship was taken by the Spanish. This happened because the Spanish Ambassador to England, Diego Sarmiento de Acuña, Count of Gondomar, complained. Luckily, John Chudleigh was not executed like his relative Walter Raleigh. In 1618, he asked the king for help and got his ship back.
Fighting Pirates and Serving the King
After this, Chudleigh sold his ship. He then became the captain of an armed Merchant ship. In 1620, he helped fight against Algerian Pirates. These pirates were a big problem for ships in the sea. In June 1621, he and Sir Thomas Wilsford sank one of the best Algerian Man-of-war ships. They also helped chase away other enemy ships. When he returned to England, he received 30 pounds as a reward.
In 1624, he was put in charge of the ship Speedwell (1577 ship). His job was to patrol the English Channel. In October, he transported Count Ernst von Mansfeld to Flushing. In May 1625, he was given command of the English ship Rainbow (1586). He joined the Cádiz expedition (1625) under Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex. Before this important trip, he was made a knight.
In 1626, Chudleigh became captain of the ship Bonaventure (1567). He served under Montagu Bertie, 2nd Earl of Lindsey. Later, he was again made captain of this ship. He wanted to be a messenger for George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham's trip to Île de Ré. However, his ship was not included in the fleet that sailed to France. In a rescue mission led by Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland, John Chudleigh was the Vice admiral.
This rescue mission did not arrive in time. When Chudleigh returned to England, his ship was badly damaged. This meant he could not command a ship for a while. Instead, he was given a place on the council of war in 1628. This council was a group of important people who advised on military matters.
Role in the Council of War
His fellow council members asked him and two other captains to advise the Duke of Buckingham. They needed to figure out how many ships were needed to guard the Narrow Seas constantly. While on the council, Chudleigh suggested several ideas. One idea he had proposed as early as 1625 was to have temporary hospitals. These hospitals would be in convenient places to treat sick and injured sailors.
He played a very important role on the main ship of the fleet. His approval was needed for plans to move forward. The day after he presented his ideas to the council of war, he was elected to Parliament. He became a Member of Parliament for Lostwithiel. He took over this seat from his brother-in-law, Reginald Mohun (died 1642). His older brother had also held this same seat in 1625.
After the Siege of La Rochelle, England's naval operations became smaller. Chudleigh was left without a job at sea. The Board of Admiralty suggested he become Admiral of the Narrow Seas. But King Charles I of England disagreed. The King might have remembered that Chudleigh was late in October 1627. So, the King appointed Chudleigh's former colleague, John Penington, instead. To thank him for his service, Chudleigh was given a small French ship called the St Mary.
In 1631, John Chudleigh bought the Wardship of William Lacy of Somerset for 200 pounds. This shows that he was still quite a wealthy man.
Important Positions Held
- Privateer Captain: 1617-1618
- Captain in the Royal Navy: 1620-1621, 1623-1628
- Commissioner to arrest the ship Esperance and make an inventory of its goods: 1624
- Vice Admiral: 1628
- Member of the council of war: 1628
Marriages
John Chudleigh married twice. His first marriage was to Margaret Courtenay. She was the daughter of William Courtenay (died 1630), from a very important family. His second marriage was to Dorothy Norris, whose family was less well-known. It is not clear if he had any children.
