John Hampden
John Hampden (c. June 1595 – 24 June 1643) was an English landowner and politician whose opposition to 'arbitrary' taxes imposed by Charles I made him a national figure. Allied with Parliamentarian leader John Pym, and cousin to Oliver Cromwell, he was among the Five Members whose attempted arrest in January 1642 helped to spark the First English Civil War. All 5 are commemorated at the State Opening of Parliament each year.
John Hampden MP, JP | |
|---|---|
John Hampden | |
| Committee of Safety | |
| In office July 1642 – June 1643 † | |
| Member of Parliament for Buckinghamshire | |
| In office April 1640 – December 1643 † | |
| Member of Parliament for Wendover | |
| In office 1624–1629 | |
| Member of Parliament for Grampound | |
| In office 1621–1622 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | circa June 1595 London |
| Died | 24 June 1643 (aged 48) Thame |
| Cause of death | Died of wounds |
| Resting place | Great Hampden church |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Symeon (1619–1631) Letitia Knollys (1640–1643) |
| Relations | Oliver Cromwell; |
| Children | Ann (1616–1701); Elizabeth (1619–1643); John (1621–1642); William (died 1675); Ruth (1628–1687); Mary (1630–1689); Richard (1631–1695) |
| Parent(s) | William Hampden (1570–1597); Elizabeth Cromwell (1574–1664); |
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford |
| Occupation | Landowner and politician |
| Signature | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Parliamentarians |
| Branch/service | Infantry |
| Years of service | 1642–43 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Hampden’s Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | |
After the war started in August 1642, Hampden had raised an infantry regiment, dying of wounds he received at the Battle of Chalgrove Field on 18 June 1643. Many supporters of Parliament considered his loss to be a tremendous blow, largely because he was one of the few MPs able to bridge divisions between its different factions.
His early death would mean Hampden would avoid the ideological splits that would ultimately lead to the Execution of Charles I in 1649, and establishment of The Protectorate. Combined with a reputation for honest, principled, and patriotic opposition to arbitrary rule, in 1841 his statue was erected in the rebuilt Palace of Westminster, representing the Parliamentarian cause. Prior to the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were among those who referenced him to justify their cause.