John Rosworm facts for kids

John Rosworm, also known as Rosworme, was a soldier and military engineer from the Netherlands or Germany. He lived and worked between about 1630 and 1660. He played an important role in the English Civil War, fighting for the side known as the Parliamentarians.

Rosworm's Early Life and Role in Manchester

John Rosworm traveled and worked across Europe as a military engineer. In 1642, he came to Manchester in England. The town hired him for six months to help defend them. They paid him £30 to lead their defenses against the Royalists. The Royalists were led by Lord Strange.

Lord Strange tried to convince Rosworm to switch sides and join the Royalists. But Rosworm stayed loyal to Manchester. He quickly finished building the town's defenses on September 23, 1642.

The Siege of Manchester

The very next day, on September 24, 1642, the Royalists began their attack. This was called a siege, where an army tries to take over a town by surrounding it. Rosworm helped Manchester defend itself. The town held out until Lord Strange and his Royalist forces left on October 1.

Fighting for Parliament

After the siege, Rosworm led a counter-attack against the Royalists. His forces captured the town of Leigh. This became a base for the Parliamentarian soldiers in Lancashire.

Rosworm was then made a lieutenant colonel in Ralph Ashton's army group, called a regiment. He helped organize the defenses of Preston after Parliamentarian forces captured it on February 9, 1643.

Improving Manchester's Defenses

Rosworm's first contract with Manchester ended. But the town wanted to keep him. They hired him again for an annual salary of £60. He gave up his military rank from Ashton to focus on Manchester. He worked to make the town's defenses even stronger.

Rosworm also helped in the capture of Wigan. He later claimed that Colonel Richard Holland had put him in danger during this fight.

Battles and Fortifications

Rosworm continued to be active in the war. He helped in the attack on Warrington. He also worked on the defenses of Liverpool. After this, he returned to Manchester. The town was facing a new threat from William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle.

Rosworm planned defenses for Manchester that stretched far away. These included areas like Blackstone Edge and Blackgate in the Pennines mountains. Because of these strong defenses, Newcastle decided not to attack Manchester.

Rosworm later fought with Sir Thomas Fairfax at Nantwich. He also worked with Sir John Meldrum at Liverpool. He was in charge of the siege to take back Liverpool. Parliament successfully won Liverpool on November 1, 1644.

Later Years and Legacy

In the years 1644 and 1645, the Royalists tried to get Rosworm to join them again. He also faced problems with his pay not being given on time. The people of Manchester even asked Parliament to help Rosworm with his money problems, but it didn't work out.

By 1648, Rosworm was having financial difficulties. He went to London to ask for help. Over the next ten years, he sometimes received payments from the people of Manchester, though they were often given unwillingly. He had settled his family there.

In 1651, Parliament gave him a job in New Yarmouth. His task was to prepare defenses against possible enemy landings. Later, he was made the chief engineer for all of England.

John Rosworm was appointed the chief engineer of the army on July 19, 1659. After this, there are no more records of him. It is believed that he died in another country after the English Restoration, when the king returned to power.