John Lambert

January 7, 1619 (age 65)

Kirkby Malham, United Kingdom

Lambert had a strange life, missing his footing on the steps of power. He served in the New Model army and in 1647 was made commander of the troops in the north. After defeating the Scottish royalist forces under Hamilton in 1649, he was appointed second in command of Cromwell's army, which marched into Scotland in 1650. In 1652 he was appointed lord-deputy of Ireland, but six months later Parliament abolished the post. He was largely responsible for the Instrument of Government setting up the Protectorate in 1653, became a major-general for the northern counties, and was widely tipped as Cromwell's successor. At first he supported Richard Cromwell but later headed the group which displaced Cromwell and became known as an extreme republican and leader of the Fifth Monarchy Men. He was made a member of the council of state in the new Long Parliament of 1659 and in the same year was appointed to command the forces which suppressed the royalist uprising under Sir George Booth at Chester. He was then sent north to oppose George Monck's advance into England from Scotland, but his army deserted him and Monck marched into London unopposed. Lambert was deprived of his commands and committed to the Tower in 1660. He escaped in April 1660 to lead a last desperate rising for the Commonwealth, but few supporters came in to his rendezvous at Edgehill. Convicted of treason at his trial in 1662, his sentence was commuted to banishment on the island of Guernsey. As late as the Popish plot in 1678, Charles's ministers were worried what Lambert might do, though his mind had long been clouded over.

John Lambert

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general politician

Background

He was born on November 7, 1619 at Calton Hall, Kirkby Malham, near Skipton in the West Riding of Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

Education

He studied law, but there is no record of his having practiced, and on the outbreak of the civil war he joined the parliamentary army under Lord Fairfax.

Career

Lambert had a strange life, missing his footing on the steps of power.

He served in the New Model army and in 1647 was made commander of the troops in the north.

After defeating the Scottish royalist forces under Hamilton in 1649, he was appointed second in command of Cromwell's army, which marched into Scotland in 1650.

In 1652 he was appointed lord-deputy of Ireland, but six months later Parliament abolished the post. He was largely responsible for the Instrument of Government setting up the Protectorate in 1653, became a major-general for the northern counties, and was widely tipped as Cromwell's successor.

At first he supported Richard Cromwell but later headed the group which displaced Cromwell and became known as an extreme republican and leader of the Fifth Monarchy Men.

He was made a member of the council of state in the new Long Parliament of 1659 and in the same year was appointed to command the forces which suppressed the royalist uprising under Sir George Booth at Chester.

He was then sent north to oppose George Monck's advance into England from Scotland, but his army deserted him and Monck marched into London unopposed. Lambert was deprived of his commands and committed to the Tower in 1660.

He escaped in April 1660 to lead a last desperate rising for the Commonwealth, but few supporters came in to his rendezvous at Edgehill.

Convicted of treason at his trial in 1662, his sentence was commuted to banishment on the island of Guernsey.

As late as the Popish plot in 1678, Charles's ministers were worried what Lambert might do, though his mind had long been clouded over.

Personality

He was a good cavalry commander under the Fairfaxes in the first civil war, and a leading general in the second, serving with Cromwell at Preston.

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