William Harrison (MP) facts for kids
William Harrison was an English politician and soldier who lived in the 1600s. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) and fought for King Charles I during the First English Civil War. He was born around 1619 and sadly died in 1643 during the war.
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Who Was William Harrison?
William Harrison was the son of Sir John Harrison, a very important businessman. William also had a sister named Ann, Lady Fanshawe, who later wrote famous stories about her life.
Early Life and Education
William went to St Catharine's College, Cambridge, a university, in 1637. He studied there for about a year and finished his degree in early 1638. He also joined a group called Gray's Inn, which was a place where people learned about law.
Joining Parliament
Around 1641, William Harrison became a Member of Parliament (MP) for a town called Queenborough. Queenborough was a "rotten borough." This meant that even though it was a small town, it still had a Member of Parliament. Often, a powerful person, like the Constable of the Castle, would choose who would be the MP for that town.
William was quite active in the early meetings of the Long Parliament. His father, Sir John Harrison, was a wealthy financier (someone who deals with large amounts of money). Sir John agreed to give a large sum of money to Parliament. William was chosen to be the person to receive this money.
The English Civil War
In August 1642, King Charles I went to Nottingham to raise the Royal Standard. This event marked the beginning of the First English Civil War. William Harrison joined the King and supported him. Because William sided with the King, Parliament took action against his father.
A Soldier's End
On June 24, 1643, William Harrison was removed from the House of Commons because he supported the King. Just a few days later, he tragically died. He was injured after falling from his horse during a fight with Parliament's soldiers in Oxfordshire. These soldiers were led by the Earl of Essex.
William Harrison was buried in the chapel at Exeter College, Oxford. However, some records suggest he might have been buried in the church of St Peter the Great.
