Sir Edward Lake, 1st Baronet facts for kids

Sir Edward Lake, 1st Baronet (1600 – 18 July 1674) was an important lawyer and a strong supporter of the King during a time of war in England. He was known for his bravery in battle and later became a special legal advisor in Ireland. Sir Edward was also the first person to hold the title of Baronet in his family. He held important legal roles in the church, like being the Chancellor and Vicar General for the Lincoln area in England.

Early Life and Family

Edward Lake was born in 1600. His parents were Richard Lake and Anne Wardall. They got married in a village called Keelby in Lincolnshire, England. Edward's mother, Anne, came from a family of farmers. Her father, Edward Wardall, was a churchwarden in Keelby.

Edward's father, Richard, was born in 1570 in Irby upon Humber, which is not far from Keelby. Richard was a tailor. Edward's mother, Anne, passed away before 1615. His father then married Anne Morrelly. Richard Lake died in 1626.

Education and Studies

Edward was born in 1600 and was baptized on February 22 of that year. This was nine months after his parents married. Back then, the year started on March 25, so his birth was in the "new" year of 1600.

When his father, Richard, passed away in 1626, Edward was mentioned in his will as the oldest son. Edward received a small amount of money from his father.

Edward went to St Catharine Hall, Cambridge University, and earned his first degree in 1626. He then continued his studies at St Alban's Hall, Oxford University. There, he earned a degree in Civil Law in 1628. The next year, he received a Master of Arts degree from Cambridge. Later, in 1636 and 1637, he earned even higher law degrees, becoming a Doctor of Laws.

A Life of Law and Loyalty

Edward Lake became a lawyer and was appointed the Advocate General of Ireland. This meant he was a chief legal advisor for the government in Ireland. From 1639, he served in the Irish Parliament. However, he was removed from Parliament in 1640 due to some issues during an investigation.

When the English Civil War began, Edward joined the Royalist side, supporting King Charles I. He fought bravely in the Battle of Edgehill on October 23, 1642. During this battle, he was badly wounded sixteen times. His left arm was hit, but he was so determined that he held his horse's reins with his teeth while fighting with his sword in his right hand!

He was captured after the battle and imprisoned. But after seven weeks, he managed to escape. By Christmas of 1642, he was safe in Bangor, Wales.

Rewards and Recognition

Because of his loyalty and bravery, King Charles I promised Edward Lake a special title called a "baronetcy" in 1643. This title is like a hereditary knighthood. The King also promised to make up for the lands Edward had lost during the war.

After the war ended and the King's son, Charles II, returned to the throne, Edward asked for his lands back and for the baronetcy. He was made the Chancellor of the Lincoln area in 1660. In this role, he was the Bishop's main legal officer.

On July 10, 1661, Sir Edward was officially given the title of Baronet of Carnow, Ireland. This was a great honor for his service to the King. In 1661, he also became the Vicar General of the Lincoln area. This meant he was the Bishop's most important official, helping to manage the church's legal matters.

Marriage and Family

Edward Lake married Anne Bibye on January 13, 1629, in London. They had one son, also named Edward Lake, who was born in 1630. Sadly, their son passed away before 1665. Edward's wife, Anne, was still alive when he wrote his will in 1665, but she had passed away by 1670.

Death and Legacy

Sir Edward Lake died on July 18, 1674, in Lincolnshire. He was buried two days later in Lincoln Cathedral, where his wife Anne had also been buried. He wanted to be buried as close to her as possible.

A memorial was put up for Sir Edward Lake in Lincoln Cathedral by his nephew, Thomas Lake. Over time, parts of this memorial were damaged. However, the part showing his family crest and coat of arms survived. In 1907, a new stone tablet with the original Latin words from his monument was placed in the cathedral.

Sir Edward Lake's baronetcy ended when he died because he had no living sons to inherit it. However, in 1711, his great-nephew, Bibye Lake, successfully asked the King to be made a baronet. This was done to honor Sir Edward's important service to the Crown.