William Farrington (Royalist)
Encyclopedia
William Farrington was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
in 1640. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War
.
Farrington was the son of William Farrington and grandson of William Farrington of Worden
, Lancashire, an estate which the family had held since the time of Edward III. His grandfather left him the estate at Worden in 1610, cutting out his father who was said to have been a spendthrift. Farrington also purchased the manor of Leyland in 1617. He was secretary to Lord Strange
. In 1636 he was High Sheriff of Lancashire
.
In April 1640, Farrington was elected Member of Parliament
for Lancashire
in the Short Parliament
. In the Civil War, was appointed a commissioner of array and was reported by the Parliamentarians as one of "the most busy and active". His servant, William Sumner, captured a stock of gunpowder at Preston in 1642. Also in 1642, Farrington accompanied Lord Strange to the siege of Manchester. He was principal adviser of the Countess
in her defence of Lathom House against Parliamentary forces in the Siege of Lathom House
. His estate was sequestered by parliament. He was a prisoner in 1646, after which he compounded for his estates and took no further part in the wars.
Farrington died in 1659 three years after his father who died at the age of 90. He was succeeded by his son William who also fought in the Royalist cause and was nominated for the title of Knight of the Royal Oak.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
in 1640. He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Farrington was the son of William Farrington and grandson of William Farrington of Worden
Worden Park
Worden Park is a large area of parkland situated on the outskirts of Leyland, a town in the borough of South Ribble, Lancashire, England. It is less than a quarter of a mile from the town centre, yet is a peaceful and relaxed environment.-History:...
, Lancashire, an estate which the family had held since the time of Edward III. His grandfather left him the estate at Worden in 1610, cutting out his father who was said to have been a spendthrift. Farrington also purchased the manor of Leyland in 1617. He was secretary to Lord Strange
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby
James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby KG was a supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War.Born at Knowsley, he is sometimes styled the Great Earl of Derby, eldest son of William Stanley, 6th Earl of Derby and Lady Elizabeth de Vere. During his father's life he was known as Lord Strange...
. In 1636 he was High Sheriff of Lancashire
High Sheriff of Lancashire
The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient officer, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales...
.
In April 1640, Farrington was elected 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,...
for Lancashire
Lancashire (UK Parliament constituency)
Lancashire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England from 1290, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
in the Short Parliament
Short Parliament
The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks....
. In the Civil War, was appointed a commissioner of array and was reported by the Parliamentarians as one of "the most busy and active". His servant, William Sumner, captured a stock of gunpowder at Preston in 1642. Also in 1642, Farrington accompanied Lord Strange to the siege of Manchester. He was principal adviser of the Countess
Charlotte Stanley, Countess of Derby
Charlotte Stanley, Countess of Derby , born Charlotte de La Trémoille, was the daughter of the French nobleman Claude de La Trémoille, Duke of Thouars, and his wife Charlotte Brabantina of Nassau...
in her defence of Lathom House against Parliamentary forces in the Siege of Lathom House
Siege of Lathom House
The Siege of Lathom House was a military confrontation between a Parliamentarian army and a Royalist stronghold in Lathom near Ormskirk in Lancashire. It lasted from late February to late May 1644, when the siege was lifted.-Background:...
. His estate was sequestered by parliament. He was a prisoner in 1646, after which he compounded for his estates and took no further part in the wars.
Farrington died in 1659 three years after his father who died at the age of 90. He was succeeded by his son William who also fought in the Royalist cause and was nominated for the title of Knight of the Royal Oak.