Peter Osborne (1584-1653)
Encyclopedia
Sir Peter Osborne of Chicksands
in Bedfordshire
, was an English administrator and Member of Parliament
, who was Royal Governor of Guernsey during the English Civil War
.
He was the eldest son of Sir John Osborne (1552–1628) and grandson of Peter Osborne (1521–1592), who had been Keeper of the Privy Purse
to King Edward VI
, and who had been granted the office of Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer
to himself and his heirs. Sir Peter was knighted in 1611, and married Dorothy Danvers. Through the influence of her brother, the Earl of Danby
, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey in 1621 with a reversion
on the governorship in the event of Danby's death. He also served in the Parliaments of 1624 and 1625, representing Corfe Castle
, and after his father's death in 1628 also inherited his lucrative position in the Exchequer
.
On Guernsey
, Sir Peter was active with his brother-in-law in reinforcing the island against the threat of invasion from France
; however the cost of these soldiers fell on the islanders, occasioning considerable unrest, to which Osborne reacted by attempting to impose martial law in 1628. Parry noted that
These grievances probably played a part in Guernsey's decision to declare for Parliament on the outbreak of the civil war, but Osborne remained loyal to the King
, holding the impregnable Castle Cornet
for the royal cause against constant siege. The castle was strategically priceless, commanding the entrance to St Peter Port
harbour and reinforcing the still Royalist Jersey
.
In 1644, on Danby's death, Osborne inherited the position of Governor. He remained at Cornet Castle until 1646 when with the military phase of the war in England over, he appointed Sir Baldwin Wake as lieutenant-governor and handed over the fortess to him. (Wake continued to hold it until 1651, the last Royalist outpost anywhere in the British Isles to surrender.) Osborne seems first to have retired abroad, living in St Malo while his property was sequestered by Parliament, but later he returned, poverty stricken, to Chicksands, where he died in 1653. However, the family's fortunes were restored at the Restoration
, and his eldest son, John, was created a baronet in 1662.
Chicksands
Chicksands is a village in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England and part of the civil parish of Campton and Chicksands . It is on the River Flit. Nearby places are Shefford and Campton....
in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, was an English administrator and Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, who was Royal Governor of Guernsey during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
He was the eldest son of Sir John Osborne (1552–1628) and grandson of Peter Osborne (1521–1592), who had been Keeper of the Privy Purse
Keeper of the Privy Purse
The Keeper of the Privy Purse and Treasurer to the King/Queen is responsible for the financial management of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom....
to King Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
, and who had been granted the office of Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer
Remembrancer
The Remembrancer was originally one of certain subordinate officers of the English Exchequer. The office itself is of great antiquity, the holder having been termed remembrancer, memorator, rememorator, registrar, keeper of the register, despatcher of business...
to himself and his heirs. Sir Peter was knighted in 1611, and married Dorothy Danvers. Through the influence of her brother, the Earl of Danby
Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby
Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby, KG was an English soldier. Outlawed after a killing, he regained favour and became a Knight of the Garter.-Life:...
, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey in 1621 with a reversion
Reversion (law)
A reversion is a type of "remainder" interest created when incomplete ownership in property is alienated subject to a condition subsequent. Upon the fulfillment of the condition subsequent, the incomplete possessory rights cease to exist and exclusive ownership returns to the holder of the...
on the governorship in the event of Danby's death. He also served in the Parliaments of 1624 and 1625, representing Corfe Castle
Corfe Castle (UK Parliament constituency)
Corfe Castle was a parliamentary borough in Dorset, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons from 1572 until 1832, when it was abolished by the Great Reform Act.-History:...
, and after his father's death in 1628 also inherited his lucrative position in the Exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
.
On Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
, Sir Peter was active with his brother-in-law in reinforcing the island against the threat of invasion from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
; however the cost of these soldiers fell on the islanders, occasioning considerable unrest, to which Osborne reacted by attempting to impose martial law in 1628. Parry noted that
-
- He took no pains to make himself loved by the inhabitants of Guernsey. He disliked and distrusted their religious and political principles, and expressed his opinions openly.
These grievances probably played a part in Guernsey's decision to declare for Parliament on the outbreak of the civil war, but Osborne remained loyal to the King
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...
, holding the impregnable Castle Cornet
Castle Cornet
Castle Cornet is a large island castle in Guernsey, and former tidal island, also known as Cornet Rock or Castle Rock, which has been part of one of the breakwaters of St Peter Port's harbour, the main one in the island, since 1859.- Geography :...
for the royal cause against constant siege. The castle was strategically priceless, commanding the entrance to St Peter Port
St Peter Port
Saint Peter Port is the capital of Guernsey as well as the main port. The population in 2001 was 16,488. In Guernésiais and in French, historically the official language of Guernsey, the name of the town and its surrounding parish is St Pierre Port. The "port" distinguishes this parish from...
harbour and reinforcing the still Royalist Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
.
In 1644, on Danby's death, Osborne inherited the position of Governor. He remained at Cornet Castle until 1646 when with the military phase of the war in England over, he appointed Sir Baldwin Wake as lieutenant-governor and handed over the fortess to him. (Wake continued to hold it until 1651, the last Royalist outpost anywhere in the British Isles to surrender.) Osborne seems first to have retired abroad, living in St Malo while his property was sequestered by Parliament, but later he returned, poverty stricken, to Chicksands, where he died in 1653. However, the family's fortunes were restored at 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...
, and his eldest son, John, was created a baronet in 1662.