John Russell (Royalist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Russell
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_(attributed_to)_-_Colonel_the_Honourable_John_Russell_(1620%E2%80%931681)_-_1129132_-_National_Trust.jpg) |
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| Member of the Long Parliament for Tavistock |
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| In office 1641–1644 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1620 |
| Died | 1687 |
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| Military service | |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Commands | 1st Regiment of Foot Guards |
John Russell (1620–1687) was an English soldier and politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like today's Parliament, from 1641 to 1644. During the English Civil War, he fought for the King's side, known as the Royalists.
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John Russell: Soldier and Politician
John Russell was born in 1620. He was the third son of Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford, who was a very respected nobleman. His mother was Catherine Brydges. John Russell was a wealthy man. He owned large areas of land in a place called Shingay in Cambridgeshire.
His Role in Parliament
In 1641, John Russell became a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented the area of Tavistock. This happened after his older brother, William, became an Earl. John served in a special Parliament called the Long Parliament.
The English Civil War
The English Civil War was a big conflict in England. It was fought between those who supported King Charles I (the Royalists) and those who supported Parliament (the Parliamentarians). John Russell chose to fight for the King. He was also part of a secret group called the Sealed Knot. This group worked to restore the King's power.
John Russell's family had different ideas about the war. His father supported Parliament at first. His brother even changed sides during the conflict. John, however, stayed loyal to the King. He commanded a group of soldiers known as Prince Rupert's blue-coated regiment. Prince Rupert was a famous Royalist commander.
Because John fought for the King, he was removed from Parliament in 1644. He played an important part in battles. For example, he was at the attack on Leicester in May 1645. He was also hurt during the Battle of Naseby. This was a major battle of the war. Before the war ended, he was part of the Oxford army.
After the War
After the King's power was restored, John Russell continued his military career. He became a colonel and captain of a special group of soldiers. This group was called John Russell's Regiment of Guards. Later, this regiment became part of the famous Grenadier Guards. He led this important regiment until 1681. John Russell enjoyed fashion, dancing, and music. He passed away in 1687.
