Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Cleveland
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Wentworth as a child (left), with his mother Anne and siblings Henry (centre) and Jane (right)
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| Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners | |
| In office June 1660 – March 1667 |
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| Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire | |
| In office 1625 to 1642 – 1660 to 1667 |
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| Custos Rotulorum of Bedfordshire | |
| In office 1618 to 1642 – 1660 to 1667 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1591 Nettlestead, Suffolk |
| Died | 25 March 1667 (aged 75–76) Toddington, Bedfordshire |
| Resting place | Church of St George, Toddington, Bedfordshire |
| Spouses |
Anne Croft
(m. 1611; Lucy Wentworth
(m. 1638; |
| Relations | Henrietta Wentworth, 6th Baroness Wentworth (granddaughter) John Lovelace, 3rd Baron Lovelace (grandson) |
| Children | Thomas Wentworth, 5th Baron Wentworth Anne Lovelace, 7th Baroness Wentworth Lady Catherine Spencer |
| Parents | Henry Wentworth, 3rd Baron Wentworth Anne Hopton |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Oxford |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Battles/wars | |
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland (born 1591, died 1667) was an important English landowner. He became a general for the Royalist side during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. These wars were a series of conflicts in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Thomas Wentworth was known as a skilled military leader. His son, also named Thomas, fought alongside him in the Royalist army.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Thomas Wentworth was born in 1591 in a place called Nettlestead, Suffolk. He was the oldest son of Henry Wentworth, who was the 3rd Baron Wentworth. His mother was Anne Hopton.
Thomas had a younger brother, Henry, and a sister, Jane. His mother later married William Pope, and Thomas gained several half-siblings from that marriage.
Becoming a Leader
Thomas Wentworth studied at Trinity College, Oxford. In 1610, he was given the title of Knight of the Bath. This was a special honor.
In 1614, he inherited a large estate near Toddington, Bedfordshire. This became his main home. He became friends with George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham. This Duke was very powerful because he was close to both King James I and King Charles I.
With the Duke's help, Thomas Wentworth gained important roles. In 1618, he became the Custos Rotulorum of Bedfordshire. In 1625, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. King Charles I then made him the Earl of Cleveland in 1626.
Military Service and Challenges
Thomas Wentworth stayed close to the Duke of Buckingham. He took part in a failed attack on Saint-Martin-de-Ré in 1627. He was also there when the Duke was killed in 1628.
Thomas spent a lot of money and got into debt. Even after selling some of his lands, he owed a huge amount of money by 1637. He also fought in the Bishops' Wars from 1639 to 1640. He raised soldiers for the Royalist army during these wars. This made his debt even bigger.
The English Civil War
Thomas Wentworth supported King Charles I when the First English Civil War began in 1642. He joined the King's army. He was likely present at the Battle of Edgehill in October 1642.
He was injured at the First Battle of Newbury in September 1643. Later, he led a group of cavalry (soldiers on horseback). At the Battle of Cropredy Bridge in June 1644, he led a charge that defeated the Parliamentarian cavalry. His troops also captured their cannons.
He then fought in the West Country campaign. This led to a big Royalist win at Battle of Lostwithiel in September. At the Second Battle of Newbury in October, he was captured. He was held in the Tower of London until 1647.
After King Charles I was executed in 1649, Thomas Wentworth joined King Charles II in The Hague. At the Battle of Worcester in 1651, he led several cavalry charges. These actions helped King Charles II escape safely.
Life After the War
Thomas Wentworth was captured again in Shropshire two weeks after the Battle of Worcester. He was held in the Tower of London until 1652.
He lived a quiet life until 1660, when King Charles II returned to power. Thomas got back his old jobs as Custos Rotulorum and Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. He was also made Captain of the Gentlemen Pensioners.
However, he was still in financial trouble. By the time he died in 1667, he had lost most of his estates.
Family Life
In 1611, Thomas Wentworth married Anne Croft. They had two children:
- Thomas Wentworth, 5th Baron Wentworth (1612–1665)
- Lady Anne Wentworth (1623–1697)
After Anne died in 1638, he married Lucy Wentworth in October 1638. They had one daughter:
- Lady Catherine Wentworth (1639–1670)
Lord Cleveland died on March 25, 1667, in Toddington. He was buried at the Church of St George, Toddington, Bedfordshire. Since his son Thomas had died before him, the title of Earl of Cleveland ended. However, his granddaughter, Henrietta Maria, became Baroness Wentworth.
