For the member of parliament for Wallingford, and for Cricklade, see William Lenthall (died 1702).
William Lenthall
Speaker of the House of Commons
In office 26 December 1659[1] – 16 March 1660[1]
Monarch
(Interregnum)
Preceded by
William Say (temporary)
Succeeded by
Sir Harbottle Grimston
In office 7 May 1659[1] – 13 October 1659[1]
Monarch
(Interregnum)
Preceded by
Thomas Bampfylde
Succeeded by
William Say (temporary during Lenthall's illness)
In office 4 September 1654[1] – 22 January 1655[1]
Monarch
(Interregnum)
Preceded by
The Rev. Francis Rous
Succeeded by
Sir Thomas Widdrington
In office 6 August 1647[1] – 20 April 1653[1]
Monarch
Charles I / (Interregnum)
Preceded by
Henry Pelham (temporary)
Succeeded by
The Rev. Francis Rous
In office 3 November 1640[1] – 30 July 1647[1]
Monarch
Charles I
Preceded by
Sir John Glanville
Succeeded by
Henry Pelham (temporary, during Lenthall's abandonment of the Speakership)
Master of the Rolls
In office 1643[1]–1660[1]
Monarch
Charles I / (Interregnum)
Commissioner of the Great Seal
In office 1646[1]–1648[1]
Monarch
Charles I
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office 1645[1]–1648[1]
Monarch
Charles I
Personal details
Born
1591[1] Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire
Died
3 September 1662[1]
Spouse(s)
Elizabeth Evans, by 1619[1]
Children
at least 2 sons and 2 daughters[1]
Education
St Alban Hall University of Oxford, Lincoln's Inn
William Lenthall (1591–1662) was an English politician of the Civil War period. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons for a period of almost twenty years, both before and after the execution of King Charles I.
He is best remembered for his defiance of the king on 4 January 1642 when Charles entered the chamber of the House of Commons, supported by 400 armed men, in an attempt to seize five members whom he accused of treason. When Charles asked Lenthall where the five were, Lenthall famously replied "I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as this House is pleased to direct me". It was the first time in English history that a speaker of the House of Commons had declared his allegiance to the liberty of parliament rather than the will of the monarch.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstThrush & Ferris 2010, p. 98.
WilliamLenthall (1591–1662) was an English politician of the Civil War period. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons for a period of almost twenty...
Lenthall may refer to: Lenthall Houses, historic houses on the George Washington University campus in Washington, D.C. Lenthalls Dam, a dam in Queensland...
least two portraits (including WilliamLenthall, grandson of Speaker Lenthall) were painted after Speaker Lenthall's death. By 1682, the collection contained...
it sat as the Rump Parliament): Lenthall 3 November 1640 – 26 July 1647; Pelham 30 July 1647 – 5 August 1647; Lenthall 6 August 1647 – 20 April 1653 (restored...
Parliamentarian ships also blockaded the harbour of the town. In a letter to WilliamLenthall, Speaker of the English House of Commons, written shortly after the...
when WilliamLenthall bought the estate from Tanfield's grandson, the 2nd Viscount Falkland, who had inherited it from his grandfather. Lenthall was one...
probably after 1637, by which time the estate had been bought by WilliamLenthall, Speaker of the House of Commons in the Long Parliament. After 1912...
Parliament. Lilly was on intimate terms with Bulstrode Whitelocke, WilliamLenthall the speaker, Sir Philip Stapleton, Elias Ashmole and others. Even John...
Addressing Speaker of the House WilliamLenthall, he said "Mr Speaker, I must for a time make bold with your chair". Lenthall vacated it. Calling first for...
fought and died for the Parliamentary cause. His offence was slandering WilliamLenthall, the Speaker of the House of Commons, whom he accused of corresponding...
but when he asked the Speaker, WilliamLenthall, if he had any knowledge of the whereabouts of these individuals, Lenthall famously replied: "May it please...
Archbishop of York (c. 1085 – before 1091) Robert Bloet (after January 1091) William Giffard (1094–1101) Roger of Salisbury (1101–1102) Waldric (1102–1107)...
January. Having displaced Speaker WilliamLenthall from his chair, the king asked him where the MPs had fled. Lenthall, on his knees, famously replied,...
(Grantham) (temporary during Lenthall's abandonment of the Speakership) 1647 1653 WilliamLenthall (Woodstock) (Lenthall was restored to the Chair by...
Street in Walton, Liverpool sits off County Road (A59) in between (William) Lenthall Street and (John) Hampden Street. There is an Ireton Street in Belfast...
Worcester victory of the day earlier, Cromwell's 4 September despatch to WilliamLenthall, the Speaker of the House of Commons, has become famous: "The dimensions...
sat for one term from 3 September 1654 until 22 January 1655 with WilliamLenthall as the Speaker of the House. During the first nine months of the Protectorate...
Fraser, Cromwell, our chief of men (London, 1973) Cromwell letter to WilliamLenthall (1649) "The Tholsel, West Street, Shop Lane, Moneymore, Drogheda, Louth"...
D'Ewes Major-General Harrison WilliamLenthallWilliam Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford William Strode Archbishop William Laud impeached December 1640, imprisoned...
further humiliated when he asked the Speaker, WilliamLenthall, to give their whereabouts, which Lenthall famously refused to do. From then on relations...
"Haverbrowe, June 14, 1645" to the Speaker of the House of Commons, WilliamLenthall, announcing the victory. An independent church was established in the...
required.) Sainty (1993) p. 151 Roberts, Stephen K. (2005) [2004]. "Lenthall, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University...
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