English Committee of Safety
Encyclopedia
The Committee of Safety, established by the Parliamentarians
in July 1642, was the first of a number of successive committees set up to oversee the English Civil War
against King Charles I
, and the Interregnum.
.
which was advancing on London with demands that the Presbyterians did not wish to meet. When it became clear that the populace did not support them, the committee was dissolved and the Presbyterians fled.
, to replace the Lord Protector Richard Cromwell
's Council of State. It initially had seven members Charles Fleetwood
, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Sir Henry Vane the Younger
, Edmund Ludlow
, William Sydenham, Richard Salwey
, and John Jones
. Two days latter on 9 May four more men were appointed to the committee John Lambert
, John Desborough
, James Berry
and Thomas Scot
. It was only a temporary expediency and was dissolved two weeks later when on 19 May a new Council of State was appointed.
The last Committee of Safety was set up on 26 October 1659 by the high command of the New Model Army
just before the Restoration
. It was set up in response to the Rump Parliament which the day before tried to place the commander of the army Charles Fleetwood as chief of a military council under the authority of the speaker
. The members of the last committee were:
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
in July 1642, was the first of a number of successive committees set up to oversee the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
against King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, and the Interregnum.
1642–1644
The initial committee of safety was made up of fifteen Members of Parliament. It sat until 1644 when Parliament and their new Scottish allies agreed to replace it with the Committee of Both KingdomsCommittee of Both Kingdoms
The Committee of Both Kingdoms, , was a committee set up during the English Civil War by the Parliamentarian faction in association with representatives from the Scottish Covenanters, to oversee the conduct of the War and Foreign Policy...
.
1647
The Presbyterians in the House of Commons set up a new committee of safety, to coordinate defence of London and Parliament from the New Model ArmyNew Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
which was advancing on London with demands that the Presbyterians did not wish to meet. When it became clear that the populace did not support them, the committee was dissolved and the Presbyterians fled.
1659
There were two committees of safety in 1659. The first was set up on 7 May, on the authority of the Rump ParliamentRump Parliament
The Rump Parliament is the name of the English Parliament after Colonel Pride purged the Long Parliament on 6 December 1648 of those members hostile to the Grandees' intention to try King Charles I for high treason....
, to replace the Lord Protector Richard Cromwell
Richard Cromwell
At the same time, the officers of the New Model Army became increasingly wary about the government's commitment to the military cause. The fact that Richard Cromwell lacked military credentials grated with men who had fought on the battlefields of the English Civil War to secure their nation's...
's Council of State. It initially had seven members Charles Fleetwood
Charles Fleetwood
Charles Fleetwood was an English Parliamentary soldier and politician, Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1652–55, where he enforced the Cromwellian Settlement. At the Restoration he was included in the Act of Indemnity as among the twenty liable to penalties other than capital, and was finally...
, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Sir Henry Vane the Younger
Henry Vane the Younger
Sir Henry Vane , son of Henry Vane the Elder , was an English politician, statesman, and colonial governor...
, Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow
Edmund Ludlow was an English parliamentarian, best known for his involvement in the execution of Charles I, and for his Memoirs, which were published posthumously in a rewritten form and which have become a major source for historians of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. After service in the English...
, William Sydenham, Richard Salwey
Richard Salwey
Richard Salwey was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons variously between 1645 and 1659. He was a republican in politics and fought on the Parliamentary side in the English Civil War.-Life:...
, and John Jones
John Jones Maesygarnedd
Colonel John Jones was a Welsh military leader, politician and one of the regicides of King Charles I. A brother-in-law of Oliver Cromwell, Jones was born at Llanbedr in North Wales and is often surnamed Jones Maesygarnedd after the location of his Merionethshire estate. Jones spoke Welsh with his...
. Two days latter on 9 May four more men were appointed to the committee John Lambert
John Lambert (general)
John Lambert was an English Parliamentary general and politician. He fought during the English Civil War and then in Oliver Cromwell's Scottish campaign , becoming thereafter active in civilian politics until his dismissal by Cromwell in 1657...
, John Desborough
John Desborough
John Desborough was an English soldier and politician who supported the parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.-Life:He was the son of James Desborough of Eltisley, Cambridgeshire, and of Elizabeth Hatley of Over in the same county, was baptized on 13 November 1608. He was educated for...
, James Berry
James Berry (Major-General)
James Berry was a Parliamentary Major-General who fought in the English Civil War.Berry was a major-general; clerk in ironworks, Shropshire, ca...
and Thomas Scot
Thomas Scot
Thomas Scot was an English Member of Parliament and one of the regicides of King Charles I.- Early life :In 1626 Thomas Scot married Alice Allinson of Chesterford in Essex. He was a lawyer in Buckinghamshire and grew to prominence as the treasurer of the region’s County Committee between 1644 to...
. It was only a temporary expediency and was dissolved two weeks later when on 19 May a new Council of State was appointed.
The last Committee of Safety was set up on 26 October 1659 by the high command of the New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
just before the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
. It was set up in response to the Rump Parliament which the day before tried to place the commander of the army Charles Fleetwood as chief of a military council under the authority of the speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
. The members of the last committee were:
- Henry Vane the YoungerSat on both 1659 committees
- Bulstrode WhitelockeBulstrode WhitelockeSir Bulstrode Whitelocke was an English lawyer, writer, parliamentarian and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of England.- Biography :...
, - William Sydenham,
- John Lambert,
- James Berry,
- Lord WarristonArchibald Johnston, Lord WarristonArchibald Johnston, Lord Warriston was a Scottish judge and statesman.He assisted Alexander Henderson in framing the Scots National Covenant in 1638. Appointed a Procurator of the Kirk in the same year. In 1639 he assisted in negotiating pacification of Berwick, and the treaty of Ripon in 1640. He...
(Archibald Johnston) - Edmund Ludlow,
- Richard Salwey,
- John Desborough,
- Charles Fleetwood,
- Sir James HarringtonJames HarringtonJames Harrington was an English political theorist of classical republicanism, best known for his controversial work, The Commonwealth of Oceana .-Early life:...
, - William SteeleWilliam SteeleWilliam Steele was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654. He was Lord Chancellor of Ireland....
, - Walter StricklandWalter StricklandWalter Strickland was an English politician and diplomat who held high office during the Protectorate.-Life:Strickland was the younger son of Walter Strickland of Boynton. His elder brother, William, was knighted in 1630 and created a baronet in 1641, and was a Member of Parliament from 1640 to 1660...
, - Henry LawrenceHenry LawrenceHenry Lawrence may refer to:* Henry Lawrence , President of the English Council of State during the Protectorate* Henry Montgomery Lawrence , British soldier and statesman* Henry F...
, - John IretonJohn IretonJohn Ireton was Lord Mayor of London in 1658 and brother of General Henry Ireton.John Ireton was knighted by Oliver Cromwell, and purchased the estate of Radcliffe-on-Soar, in Nottinghamshire from Colonel Hutchinson...
, - Robert TichborneRobert TichborneSir Robert Tichborne , was an English soldier who fought in the English Civil War and a regicide of Charles I.Before the war he was a linen-draper by trade. In 1643 he was a captain in the London trained bands. He was lieutenant of the Tower of London in 1647. He was an extreme republican and...
, - Henry Brandrith,
- Robert ThomsonRobert ThomsonRobert Thomson may refer to:*Bobby Thomson , Major League baseball player who hit "The Shot Heard Round the World"*Bobby Thomson , former Aston Villa and Birmingham City footballer...
, - John HewsonJohn HewsonJohn Robert Hewson AM is an Australian economist, company director and a former politician. He was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia from 1990 to 1994 and led the party to defeat at the 1993 federal election.-Early life:...
, - John Clark (or John Clerk),
- Robert LilburneRobert Lilburnethumb|right|Robert LilburneColonel Robert Lilburne was the older brother of John Lilburne, the well known Leveller, but unlike his brother who severed his relationship with Oliver Cromwell, Robert Lilburne remained in the army...
, - Robert BennetRobert Bennet (MP)Robert Bennet was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1653 and 1654. He fought in the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War....
, - Cornelius HollandCornelius Holland (regicide)Cornelius Holland Born London, England; died possibly at Lausanne, Switzerland about 1671, after he was wanted for his part in the regicide of Charles I of England....
.