William Ogle, 1st Viscount Ogle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Ogle, 1st Viscount Ogle
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St Marys Michelmersh, where Ogle was buried
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| Royalist Governor of Winchester | |
| In office October 1643 – October 1645 |
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| Member of Parliament for Winchester |
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| In office November 1640 – June 1643 (excluded) |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 1600 Northumberland |
| Died | 14 July 1682 (aged 81) Michelmersh manor, Hampshire |
| Resting place | St Marys Michelmersh |
| Nationality | English |
| Political party | Royalist |
| Spouses | (1) Charity Waller (1627-1645) (2) Sarah Stewkley (1648-died before 1682) |
| Children | Sarah (after 1648–after 1682) |
| Occupation | Soldier |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  England |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Battles/wars | Bishops' Wars Irish Confederate Wars First English Civil War Siege of Winchester Castle |
William Ogle, 1st Viscount Ogle (born around 1600, died 14 July 1682) was an English soldier. He came from Northumberland but later lived in Hampshire. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Winchester from 1640 to 1643. During the First English Civil War, he was a Royalist (meaning he supported King Charles I). He served as the Royalist governor of Winchester from 1643 to 1645.
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Who Was William Ogle?
William Ogle was born about 1600 near Ashington. His father was Cuthbert Ogle. The Ogles were a well-known family in Northumberland. They were related to important people like William Cavendish, 1st Duke of Newcastle. Cavendish was a Royalist commander during the English Civil War.
Ogle's Family Life
In 1627, William Ogle married Charity Waller (1595-1645). She was a cousin of Sir William Waller, who was a general for the Parliamentarian side. Charity was also the widow of Sir Thomas Phelips, who had been an MP for Winchester.
Ogle lived on Charity's lands in Stoke Charity. They did not have children together. However, Ogle became the guardian for her two sons, Thomas (1621-1644) and James (1625-1652). Thomas later died fighting for the Royalist army.
In 1648, Ogle married again to Sarah Stewkley (who died after 1667). She owned land in Michelmersh, near Southampton. William and Sarah had one daughter, also named Sarah (who died after 1682).
Ogle's Military and Political Career
William Ogle was a soldier for most of his life. He might have started his military career in Europe during the early parts of the Thirty Years War. He probably also served in Ireland. In 1628, he was made a knight.
Early Wars and Parliament
Ogle commanded a group of soldiers during the Bishops' Wars in 1639 and 1640. These were conflicts between King Charles I and Scotland.
In April 1640, he was chosen as an MP for Winchester in the Short Parliament. He was elected again for the Long Parliament in November of the same year.
Service in Ireland
When the Irish Rebellion of 1641 began, Ogle led one of three regiments (groups of soldiers) that the Parliament sent to Ireland. These regiments were made up of soldiers who had fought in Ireland before. They arrived in Munster in May 1642.
However, soon after the First English Civil War started in England in August, these regiments became very weak. Many soldiers were sick and tired.
The English Civil War
In September 1643, King Charles I made a peace agreement with the Irish. This allowed him to bring soldiers from Ireland to England. Ogle's regiment was among them.
Ogle himself may have returned earlier. He was removed from Parliament in June because he joined the King's side. He then joined the army of Sir Ralph Hopton. Hopton's army planned to attack Hampshire and Sussex. These areas were important to Parliament because of their iron industry, which made weapons.
Taking Winchester
In late October, Ogle's scouting group found that Parliament's soldiers had left Winchester. Ogle quickly took control of the town. His quick action meant Hopton's main army had to move forward before they had enough supplies or money.
When Hopton's army reached Winchester in early November, some of the Irish soldiers protested. Several of them were executed before order was restored.
Governor of Winchester Castle
Ogle was made Governor of Winchester Castle and held this position until October 1645. His two stepsons served with him in the castle. Thomas, his older stepson, died in a small fight just before the Battle of Cheriton in March 1644. This battle was a big defeat for Hopton and ended his hopes of controlling South East England.
By June 1645, the main Royalist army was defeated at the Battle of Naseby. This left only a few Royalist strongholds, like Winchester. On September 28, a part of the New Model Army led by Oliver Cromwell arrived at Winchester. They began setting up cannons to attack the castle.
Cromwell offered Ogle a chance to surrender, but Ogle refused. By October 4, Cromwell's cannons had broken through the castle walls. Ogle surrendered the next day.
After the Surrender
Ogle had 700 men and plenty of supplies, so the Royalist leaders later held a military trial for him. He was found innocent. He may have been influenced by the civilians in the castle, including his sick wife, who died that same day. Under the rules of war at the time, if a castle kept fighting after its walls were broken, the defenders and their families might not be spared. This happened at Basing House, another Royalist stronghold, which was attacked on October 14. Many defenders there were killed.
Ogle was allowed to go to Oxford, a Royalist city. There, he was given the title "Viscount Ogle of Catherlough" in the Peerage of Ireland. This title showed his earlier service in Ireland. The reason for the award is not fully clear.
When Oxford surrendered in June 1646, Ogle was allowed to go home after paying a small fine.
Later Life
After his first wife died, William Ogle lost a lot of income. Her estate went to her younger son, James. Although Ogle remarried, he faced financial difficulties. In 1665, he was put in prison for debt. His second wife, Sarah, wrote many letters asking for him to be paid back for the money he spent as governor of Winchester.
Not much is known about his life after 1667. A monument in St Mary's church records that he died on July 14, 1682.
Images for kids
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St Marys Michelmersh, where Ogle was buried
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The Great Hall at Winchester Castle
