Sir George Chudleigh, 1st Baronet of Ashton, Devon, was an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1601 and 1625.
Background
Chudleigh was the son of John Chudleigh (1565-1589), of Ashton in Devon, who according to the Devon historian Sir William Pole (d1635) "Hassarded all his great estate unto ruyn" and sold the family"s original manor of Chudleigh, in Devon, to his tenants. His mother was Elizabeth Speke, daughter of Sir George Speke (c1530-1584) of Whitelackington in Somerset, Sheriff of Somerset in 1562-1563 and Member of Parliament for Somerset 1572-1583. The de Chudleigh family originated at the manor of Chudleigh, in Devon, and later moved to nearby Ashton.
Career
He supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War after opposing the king initially. He succeeded his father when he was eleven years old. He matriculated at New College, Oxford on 26 November 1596, aged 18.
He was elected Member of Parliament for East Looe in 1614 and for Lostwithiel in 1621.
He was created baronet of Ashton on 1 August 1622. In 1624 he was elected Member of Parliament for Tiverton.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Lostwithiel again in 1625. He is said "to have paid dear" for his loyalty.
In May 1643, the Earl of Stamford, who had just entered Cornwall with an army of seven thousand men, sent a party of twelve hundred horse, under the command of Chudleigh, to Bodmin, in order to surprise the high sheriff and gentlemen of the county.
After Stamford had accused James Chudleigh of treachery, Sir George surrendered his commission, and published a "Declaration" which is reprinted in Rushworth"s Historical Collections, volunteer ii. part iii. p. 272. Subsequently he espoused the cause of the king. Chudleigh died in 1658 and was buried in Ashton church.
Views
Quotations:
"to have paid dear".
Membership
Addled Parliament]
In 1601 he was elected Member of Parliament for Saint Michaels.
