Browne Bushell
Encyclopedia
Browne Bushell was an English Civil War
-era naval officer. He initially sided with the Roundhead
s. On the night of 15 August 1641 he led a small parliamentary force in a cutting out operation to capture the Henrietta Marie in Portsmouth harbour
. In 1643 he switched to the royalist
side. He was executed for treason in March 1651.
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
-era naval officer. He initially sided with the Roundhead
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
s. On the night of 15 August 1641 he led a small parliamentary force in a cutting out operation to capture the Henrietta Marie in Portsmouth harbour
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
. In 1643 he switched to the royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
side. He was executed for treason in March 1651.
Further reading
- Jack Binns, ‘Bushell, Browne (bap. 1609, d. 1651)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press,Sept 2004; online edn, Jan 2008
- Jack Binns, "Captain Browne Bushell: North Sea adventurer and pirate", Northern History, 27 (1991), 90–105.