John Harrington (knight) facts for kids

Sir John Harrington (died December 30, 1460) was an important person from Hornby, Lancashire, England. He belonged to a group called the gentry. These were powerful families who owned a lot of land, but they weren't nobles like dukes or earls.

Sir John was the oldest son of Sir Thomas Harrington. His father was a loyal follower, or retainer, of the Earl of Salisbury. This Earl was a leader for the Yorkist side during the Wars of the Roses.

Who Was Sir John Harrington?

Sir John Harrington lived during a very exciting and dangerous time in English history. He was part of a respected family from the northern part of England. His family was known for being loyal to certain powerful leaders.

Family and Connections

Sir John's father, Sir Thomas Harrington, was a key player in the politics of northern England. He was deeply involved in the Wars of the Roses. This was a long series of battles between two powerful English families, the House of York and the House of Lancaster, who were fighting to decide who would be king.

Sir John Harrington married Maud Clifford. She was the daughter of Thomas, Lord Clifford. Sir John and Maud had a daughter named Elizabeth around the year 1456. Elizabeth later married a son of Sir William Stanley.

The Wars of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses were a big civil war in England. It was a fight for the throne between two branches of the royal family: the House of York (whose symbol was a white rose) and the House of Lancaster (whose symbol was a red rose). Many important families, like the Harringtons, had to choose a side.

The Battle of Wakefield

On December 30, 1460, Sir John Harrington and his father, Sir Thomas, were fighting in the army of Richard, Duke of York. They were at a very important battle called the battle of Wakefield.

Sadly, the Yorkist army lost this battle badly. Both Sir John Harrington and his father were killed during the fighting on that day. Their deaths were a big loss for the Yorkist side and their family.