Oliver St John, 1st Earl of Bolingbroke facts for kids
Oliver St John, the 1st Earl of Bolingbroke, was an important English nobleman and politician. He lived a long time ago, from around 1580 to 1646. He was also known as the 4th Baron St John of Bletso before he became an Earl. He was a Knight of the Bath, which was a special honor given by the King.
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Oliver St John's Life and Career
Oliver St John was the son of Oliver St John, the 3rd Baron St John of Bletso. His mother was Dorothy Reid. He went to Peterhouse, a college at Cambridge University, around 1595. Later, he studied law at Gray's Inn in 1597.
Early Political Steps
In 1601, Oliver St John was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bedfordshire. He was elected again in 1604. As an MP, he helped discuss important changes, like the royal title. In 1610, he was made a Knight of the Bath. This was a special ceremony for Prince Henry Frederick, the King's son.
Becoming an Earl
In 1618, Oliver St John became the 4th Baron St John of Bletso after his father passed away. The next year, King James I visited his home. In 1620, Oliver St John took his place in the House of Lords, which is part of the English Parliament. On December 28, 1624, he was given the title of Earl of Bolingbroke. He officially joined the House of Lords as an Earl in 1625.
Challenges and the English Civil War
In 1626, Oliver St John refused to pay a "forced loan" that King Charles I demanded. This was money the King wanted without Parliament's approval. However, in 1638–1639, he did help pay for the Bishops' War. This was a conflict between King Charles I and Scotland.
In 1640, he signed a petition with twelve other important noblemen. They asked King Charles I to call a Parliament because they believed it would help solve the country's problems. When the English Civil War began in 1642, Oliver St John stayed with the Parliament. King Charles I had moved to York.
In 1642–1643, Parliament made him the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. This meant he was in charge of raising soldiers and keeping the area safe. He also joined the Solemn League and Covenant, an agreement to support Parliament against the King. He was also part of the Westminster Assembly, a group that discussed religious matters.
In 1645, he was excused from attending the House of Lords. Oliver St John passed away in June or July of 1646.
Oliver St John's Family
In 1602, Oliver St John married Elizabeth Paulet. They had four sons and three daughters.
Their children were:
- Oliver St John (1603–1642): He was the eldest son. He married Lady Abrabella Egerton and had four daughters.
- Sir Paulet St John: He married Elizabeth Vaughan and had three sons.
- Oliver St John: He later became the 2nd Earl of Bolingbroke.
- Paulet St John: He became the 3rd Earl of Bolingbroke.
- Francis St John: He never married.
- Francis St John: He also never married.
- Anthony St John (around 1618–1673): He married Ann Keynsham.
- Elizabeth St John: She died when she was young.
- Dorothy St John (died 1628): She married John Carey, the 2nd Earl of Dover, but they had no children.
- Barbara St John: She also died when she was young.
Oliver St John's eldest son, Oliver, was badly hurt in a battle called the Battle of Edgehill in 1642. He died before his father, leaving only daughters. So, when the 1st Earl of Bolingbroke died in 1646, his grandson, also named Oliver, became the 2nd Earl of Bolingbroke. This Oliver was the eldest son of the 1st Earl's second son, Sir Paulet St John.
Oliver St John also had five younger brothers who became Members of Parliament: Rowland, Anthony, Alexander, Beauchamp, and Henry St John.
