Christopher Wandesford

September 24, 1592 (age 47)

Although at first hostile to Charles I, this being evidenced by the active part he took in the impeachment of Buckingham, Wandesford soon became a royalist partisan, and in 1633 he accompanied Wentworth to Ireland, where he was already master of the rolls. He sat in the Irish House of Commons as member for Kildare in the Irish Parliaments of 1634 and 1639 and was a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. He was a member of Parliament for Aldborough from 1621 to 1624, a member of Parliament for Richmond from 1625 to 1626, and a member of Parliament for Thirsk from 1628 to 1629. His services to his chief were fully recognized by the latter, whom in 1640 he succeeded as lord deputy, but he had only just begun to struggle with the difficulties of his new position when he died on the 3rd of December 1640. Christopher, the 2nd viscount (d. 1719), was secretary- at-war in 1717-1718. In 1758 John, 5th viscount, was created Earl Wandesford, but his titles became extinct when he died in January 1784.

Christopher Wandesford

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politician

Background

Wandesford was born on 24 September 1592 at Bishop Burton, near Beverley, Yorkshire, the son of Sir George Wandesford (1573–1612) of Kirklington, Yorkshire.

Education

He was educated at Clare College, Cambridge.

Career

Although at first hostile to Charles I, this being evidenced by the active part he took in the impeachment of Buckingham, Wandesford soon became a royalist partisan, and in 1633 he accompanied Wentworth to Ireland, where he was already master of the rolls.

He sat in the Irish House of Commons as member for Kildare in the Irish Parliaments of 1634 and 1639 and was a member of the Privy Council of Ireland.

He was a member of Parliament for Aldborough from 1621 to 1624, a member of Parliament for Richmond from 1625 to 1626, and a member of Parliament for Thirsk from 1628 to 1629.

His services to his chief were fully recognized by the latter, whom in 1640 he succeeded as lord deputy, but he had only just begun to struggle with the difficulties of his new position when he died on the 3rd of December 1640.

Christopher, the 2nd viscount (d. 1719), was secretary- at-war in 1717-1718.

In 1758 John, 5th viscount, was created Earl Wandesford, but his titles became extinct when he died in January 1784.

Achievements

He was an English administrator and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1621 and 1629. He was Lord Deputy of Ireland at the end of his life.

Personality

Strafford's biographer, C. V. Wedgwood, describes Wandesford as shy, self-effacing, tolerant and charitable, a profound thinker, a fine lawyer and a man who was deeply concerned for social justice.

Connections

He had married Alice (1592–1659), the only daughter of Sir Hewett Osborne and sister to Sir Edward Osborne, 1st Baronet, vice-president, under Wentworth, of the Council of the North. They had seven children, five of whom survived to adulthood. During the Irish Rebellion of 1641 his widow and children were forced to flee from their home and after some hardship returned safely to Yorkshire. In the confusion Wandesford's will disappeared and was not found until 1653: this led to bitter family disputes and years of litigation.

His son Christopher (1628–1687), made a baronet in 1662, was the father of Sir Christopher Wandesford, who was created an Irish peer as Viscount Castlecomer in 1707, Castlecomer in Kilkenny having been acquired by his grandfather when in Ireland.

Wandesford's daughter Alice Thornton (1626–1707) is still remembered for her Autobiography, first published in 1875, which is a valuable source for her father's life and career.

Father:: George Wandesford
Wife:: Alice Osborne
Daughter:: Alice Thornton Wandesford
Son:: Christopher Wandesford
Friend:: Thomas Wentworth

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