Sir John Hotham, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir John Hotham, 1st Baronet (born around July 1589 – died January 3, 1645) was an important English politician. He lived at Scorborough Hall in Yorkshire. He was a Member of Parliament, which means he was elected to help make laws for the country.
In 1642, just before the English Civil War started, Sir John was the Governor of Hull. Hull was a very important town because it had a huge collection of weapons. Sir John famously refused to let King Charles I enter Hull. This stopped the King from getting the weapons. Later, during the Civil War, Sir John and his son, John Hotham the younger, were accused of going against the Parliamentarian side. They were found guilty and died on Tower Hill.
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Early Life and Family
Sir John Hotham was born in 1589. He was the only son of John Hotham (1540–1609) from Scorborough. His father had also been a Member of Parliament for Scarborough.
A Life in Politics and War
Sir John Hotham fought in Europe during the early part of the Thirty Years' War. In 1622, he was given the title of a baronet. This is a special honour from the King.
He was elected as a Member of Parliament for Beverley five times between 1625 and 1640. He also served as the Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1634. In 1639, King Charles I removed him from his job as Governor of Hull. Sir John then joined the Parliamentarian group. He refused to pay a special tax called ship-money, which the King was trying to collect.
The Standoff at Hull
In January 1642, Parliament told Hotham to take control of Hull. Hull had a large amount of military supplies. His son, John Hotham the younger, quickly carried out this order. Sir John Hotham then took command of Hull.
In April 1642, King Charles I tried to enter the town, but Sir John Hotham refused to let him in. Later, Hotham promised a prisoner, George Digby, that he would give the town to the King. However, when King Charles appeared again, Hotham refused a second time. He even drove away the King's forces who were trying to take the town.
Trouble with Parliament
Meanwhile, Hotham the younger was fighting in the Civil War in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. But he soon disagreed with other Parliamentarian leaders. People like Oliver Cromwell complained about the Hothams' actions and their troops.
Soon, both Sir John and his son were talking with the Earl of Newcastle, who was on the King's side. It seemed that Hotham the younger might have been planning to betray Hull to the King. Parliament found out about these secret talks. In June 1643, both father and son were captured and taken to London.
Trial and Execution
After a long wait, Sir John and his son were put on trial by a military court. They were found guilty and sentenced to death. John Hotham the younger was executed on Tower Hill on January 2, 1645. Even though some people tried to save him, his father, Sir John, was executed the very next day. Both were buried at a nearby church called All Hallows-by-the-Tower. A special monument was built to remember Sir John Hotham in St Mary's Church, South Dalton.
Sir John's grandson, Sir John Hotham, 2nd Baronet, who was the son of Hotham the younger, became the next baronet.
His Children
Sir John Hotham married five times and had many children. Six sons and three daughters lived to be adults. His most well-known children included:
- John Hotham the younger: His eldest son, who was also accused and executed with his father.
- Reverend Charles Hotham (1615–around 1672): He was a scholar and writer. He supported Parliament during the Civil War.
- Durant Hotham (1617–1691): He was a lawyer and writer.
In Plays and Theatre
In 2017, a play called The Hypocrite was written by Richard Bean. It was performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Hull and Stratford. In the play, Sir John Hotham was played by Mark Addy, and Lady Sarah Hotham was played by Caroline Quentin.
